BULBOUS PLANTS 269 



superbum. The natural period for blooming outside, according to 

 locality, is from the end of July till September. A variety called 

 L. Melpomene, which sometimes gets to be 6 feet high, was raised 

 by the late Mr. Hovey, of Boston, many years ago. It was said to 

 be a hybrid between L. speciosum and L. auratum. It is larger than 

 L. speciosum but dies out readily from no apparent cause. 



It may be stated for guidance in the cultivation of Lilium specio- 

 sum that it is perfectly hardy here in well drained light soil, that is, 

 on raised rockwork; but unless the bulbs are lifted at intervals of 

 two years and immediately replanted in freshly worked soil, with 

 manure added, they get smaller and smaller, ultimately dying from 

 starvation. For pot cultivation and to bloom early in Summer 

 Lilium speciosum it is one of the easiest to manage, but less trouble 

 will be experienced by planting out in raised beds, giving the neces- 

 sary protection from severe and late frosts in localities where those 

 conditions exist. 



Hardy Lilies. Everyone who has a pretty garden, some time, 

 sooner or later, takes up the growing of Lilies. They are the charm 

 of the border wherever they are planted. Success with Lilies is not 

 diflicult if one confines himself to a few sorts which he can grow. 

 Lilies are of such diverse requirements that it is only by careful 

 preparation of soils and individual study of their needs that all 

 kinds can be grown successfully in any one location. The Tiger 

 Lily, L. tigrinum, seems to grow as easily as most weeds and is not 

 even choked by them. Other Lihes prefer good soil, usually hght 

 and enriched heavily with peat and leaf mold. Manure should not 

 be used except as a mulch. In planting Lilies, then, it seems best to 

 either add the needed sand, peat and leafmold or to actually remove 

 the native soil to a depth of 2}/^ feet. A good thick layer of leaves 

 or leafmold is always beneficial as a Winter mulch unless there is a 

 growing ground cover. 



In Spring the young shoots are frequently injured by late frosts 

 and it is well to use a few evergreen boughs. For the landscape they 

 are easily combined with shrubbery or the herbaceous border, where 

 they are perfectly at home. The Wild Yellow or Canada (L. can- 

 adense), the Turk's Cap (i. superbum). and the Yellow Speciosum 

 {L. Henryi) succeed admirably in beds of Rhododendrons; especially 

 when the Rhododendrons do not crowd them too much. The 

 Gold-banded Lily (£. auratum) should be planted among shrubs 

 so that the roots are continually shaded, and where a fair degree 

 of moisture is maintained. The Coral (L. tenuifolium) , and the 

 Thunbergian Lilies {L. elegans) , are excellent planted among ferns 



