POPULAR HARDY BULBS 215 



proper depth, they will hardly fail to prosper. 

 Fully four-fifths of the important species of 

 lilies are imported from Japan or the Far 

 East and usually reach the United States 

 about the first of November. In the northern 

 states this is a little late for planting, for 

 October is unquestionably the ideal month for 

 setting out lilies. They succeed, however, 

 when planted later and it is always better to 

 plant the bulbs in November than in the 

 spring, for the lily bulb is not safely stored and, 

 even when given the best of care, loses much 

 of its vitality and sometimes throws no bloom 

 for a season. 



Among the best varieties to plant are the 

 longiflorum, whose funnel-shaped blooms are 

 the longest of any hardy lily; Japonicum, with 

 colors varying from a blush to a deep reddish 

 pink; Brownii, with blossoms that are pure 

 white inside but marked with a beautiful pur- 

 plish brown on the outer part of the petal ; 

 Batmannice, bright orange; Henryi, dark red- 

 dish yellow, and auratum, the most gorgeous 

 of lilies. The bulbs of the last, however, must 

 be renewed every two to three years in this 

 country. Its flowers are exquisitely beautiful, 

 bearing on white petals gold, red and yellow 



