THE LILIES 



manner that the flowers resemble sprekelias 

 in form; some are crimson or yellow or 

 darkest orange- yellow, with leopard spots or 

 plain. Many grow six to eight feet high, 

 others only six to eight inches. About one- 

 fifth are fragrant, some slightly, others power- 

 fully so. Some bear only two or three flowers 

 to each stalk, while others have twenty to 

 fifty or more. The leaves are broad or narrow, 

 long or short, light green or dark green, and 

 some beautifully striped with white. Some 

 varieties have branching stems. 



" The bulbs are almost as much of a study 

 as the flowers. Some have flat, thin, open 

 scales like a rose or clematis flower ; others 

 have close, thick, incurved scales, some many- 

 jointed, others entire and some crenated; a few 

 with pink or red bulbs,— but oftener yellow, 

 orange or white — some of them being nearly 

 globular, others conical or flat. Some throw 

 out numerous long moniliform, underground 

 runners. Some varieties have a tendency to 

 start early, others late." 



The calla was bred for larger size, combined 

 with strength of stalk and great beauty, a 

 blossom being produced at last nearly a foot 



107 



