THE GARDEN LILIES 



Early in May, flower lovers look for the lily-of-the- 

 valley, Convallaria majalis, which should then be found 

 in some snug spot visited by both shade and sun. 

 Often it is to be seen outside the garden proper, 

 owing to its permanence and the rapidity with which 

 it increases its dominion. Where the soil is deep and 

 well drained and enriched with leaf mold, the lily-of- 

 the- valley is apt to bloom in great profusion. One of 

 the largest beds, or rather unrestricted masses, of these 

 plants that I know yields each season thousands of 

 sprays of exquisitely scented, unusually large May 

 bells. 



When a new bed is made for these plants, it should 

 be done in time to allow the pips to be set out late in 

 the autumn. The following spring they begin early to 

 show their eagerness to extend their boundaries. In 

 fact, when they crowd too closely together, they can be 

 taken up and transplanted on the outskirts of the bed, 

 or in whichever direction it is desired that it should 

 stretch. The spaces they leave then fill up quickly 

 through the natural increase of the neighboring pips. 



After the bloom is passed, the leaves of the lily- 

 of-the-valley still form dwarf, compact masses of verdure 

 covering places which, in many cases, it would be 

 difficult to treat were it not for this delightful little 

 plant. It is, in truth, an American wild flower, being 

 localized in the higher mountains of the Alleghanies, 

 where it inhales a humid atmosphere. 



In June, opens the beautiful Madonna, or Annuncia- 

 tion, lily, Lilium eandidum. It stands about six feet 

 high at its best and bears on each stalk many pure 



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