LILIUM. 305 



thus give evidence that the bulbs are going to rest, water 

 should be gradually withheld ; and when the stems and leaves 

 have .quite decayed, they may be placed under the stage 

 until the following spring, when, as soon as they show signs 

 of growth, they should be turned out of the pots, the drainage 

 and the edges of the old ball of earth taken carefully away, 

 and the bulbs potted in pots of a larger size, without dis- 

 turbing the bulb in any way. 



L. auratum. — This, the most magnificent member of the 

 genus, a flower whose beauties no pen can adequately de- 

 scribe, is a native of Japan. The flowers are from ten to 

 twelve inches, or even more, in diameter, pure white, beau- 

 tifully spotted with reddish crimson, a beautiful band of 

 golden yellow running down the centre of each petal in most 

 of the plants, though in some varieties the band is chocolate- 

 coloured, in others crimson ; in addition to these beauties of 

 colouring and marking, the flowers are deliciously fragrant, 

 one bloom being sufficient to perfume a large conservatory. 

 Mr. Fortune speaks of its growing three or four feet in height, 

 and producing sometimes as many as five large flowers, but 

 under cultivation it far exceeds these proportions. A plant 

 we saw at Melchet Court, under the management of Mr. 

 Cross, was at least nine feet in height, and bore the immense 

 number of one hundred and fifty-one flowers, all large and 

 fully expanded. It is a plant which every person, rich or 

 poor, should have in his or her garden. 



L. gigantewm. — As its name implies, this is a gigantic Lily. 

 It grows, when the bulb is strong, to about eight feet in 

 height, with a very stout stem, and large cordate shining 

 dark green leaves. The large flowers are produced in ter- 

 minal racemes, and are pendent and trumpet-shaped, white, 

 with reddish violet streaks, and very fragrant. Native of 

 Northern India. 



