476 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 353. 



to grow, and many of [the shade-lovmg plants become weedy 

 and possibly difficult to eradicate when once established. If 

 suited as to soil and situation the crowns need to be lifted 

 every third year, and to be replanted over a larger space ; 

 otherwise the crowns do not develop fully, and the flowers are 

 small. If it is not desirable to cover more than the original 

 space the crowns can be used for forcing in winter, and will 

 be found to give good results. The roots can be preserved 



manure to protect the newly made beds from severe frost. 

 The older beds we cover annually with a good coat of finely 

 chopped manure as a fertilizer for the coming year. This is 

 allowed to remain on the bed, and it is surprising to see the 

 vigor of the foliage that pushes up through it in the spring, the 

 blades broader than the palm of one's hand, with spikes of 

 bloom in proportion, many with more than twelve bells to the 

 spike. The chief danger to guard against is drought in sum- 



Fig- 75- — Myrica cerifera. — See page 474. 



without mutilation, and mats of them can be used which will 

 give a better spike of bloom and more foliage than is usually 

 obtained from newly imported crowns. 



The situation being decided upon, the soil should be dug 

 out to a depth of one foot, and plenty of manure mixed with 

 it, or if it is poor a better soil should be substituted. The bed 

 should be filled in to the depth of six inches, and the crowns 

 set about six inches apart each way, the roots being carefully 

 laid out, since they do not penetrate deeply, but spread. After 

 filling in the rest of the soil it is well to give a top-dressing of 



mer ; with moisture the Lily-of-the-valley will thrive in sand if 

 well enriched. 



We are hearing a good deal now about the new Russian 

 form of Lily-of-the-valley, and this strain is being tried on a 

 large scale this year for forcing under glass. Whether it is a 

 distinct form or whether it is obtained by extra cultivation is at 

 present uncertain, but the introducers claim that these crowns 

 are grown at the foot of the Hartz Mountains, and are alto- 

 gether superior to the general stock in cultivation. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. O. Of pet. 



