LILIES FOR FORGING 421 



to their wants, condition are most favorable. But in either case, 

 one has to start out with the right kind of bulbs. 



A giganteum Lily can stand a temperature of 90 deg. toward 

 the last .two months if well rooted and in good health, but not 

 quite far enough advanced in regard to showing buds. It is always 

 safe to have this happen about six weeks before Easter; this is not 

 to say that they can't be brought in in a shorter time, but it is better 

 to increase the temperature above 65 or 70 deg. after the buds 

 show, rather than before. Always bear in mind that the harder you 

 force, the more particular you must be with watering, and the chill 

 should always be taken off the water. Spraying freely is also neces- 

 sary. What makes for success is an even temperature, having the 

 plants grow on during January and February, increasing the heat to 

 70 deg. if necessary, and slowly lowering it again later on to harden 

 the plants off. A sudden drop with the buds partly advanced is 

 likely to result in splits. On the other hand, to maintain a night 

 temperature of 60 deg. and then, during a severe cold spell, to let 

 it go down to 50 deg. for a week or more, will start trouble for 

 certain. A Lily once stuck or stunted is usually beyond the reach 

 of the best skill. It might flower, but it would be minus the stem 

 which a Lily should have to be worth anything. 



LiLIUM FORMOSUM 



This, to my mind, is the ideal retail grower's Lily, for the reason 

 that you can successfully grow it if necessary in a 50-deg. house. 

 This does not mean that you will have the plants in for Easter 

 should this great Lily day fall on an early date. To insure this, 

 the house should be kept a Uttle above 50 deg. From bulbs planted 

 in October, you will start to cut flowers from early March on and 

 some of the plants will come in about May. But what of that? 

 With sound bulbs and just a little attention, almost ninety per cent 

 will develop into good flowering plants that you can use as they 

 come along. If you are willing to subject some of the late ones to 

 enough heat and hold those a Uttle too far advanced back in a cool 

 house, you can manage to get a good percentage in for Easter Week. 

 Those who experience trouble with the giganteums should try the 

 formosums. 



LiLiuM Harrisii 



Years ago we used Lilium Harrisii altogether for Easter and 

 for years didn't know what it was to have a failure. But graduaUy 

 this changed and since the introduction of L. giganteum, Harrisu 

 is only made use of for extra-early forcing. With quite a tew it 

 is still a favorite, and the same is true of L. multifhrum, but giganteum 

 and formosum are not likely to be replaced by them.. 



