20 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



known or more highly appreciated; on no class of 

 plants is more money annually spent (I had almost 

 written wasted); and with no class of flowers do 

 amateurs succeed less. The Lily growers who have 

 achieved outstanding success can be counted on one's 

 fingers, and nurserymen have failed as completely as 

 have amateurs. 



Some species, like the Tiger Lily (L. tigrinum,) 

 succeed almost everywhere and often under the most 

 unfavorable conditions. Others, like the Madonna 

 Lily (L. candidum) , thrive amazingly in unexpected 

 places where they receive no thought or attention. 

 The Madonna Lily is the glory and pride of many a 

 cottager's garden in the south of England yet often 

 on the "squire's estate" near by neither skill nor care 

 can induce it to happily make itself at home. David 

 Harum opined that "a reasonable amount of fleas 

 is good for a dog — they keep him from brooding on 

 being a dog." How far the Lily enthusiast can apply 

 this philosophy to his own particular troubles depends 

 upon the individual and is very much a moot point. 



However, a good many of these troubles are directly 

 or indirectly of his own seeking although he may be 

 quite unconscious of the fact. It would be absurdly 

 fallacious to contend that with knowledge and care 

 every Lily-lover can successfully cultivate any kind 



