462 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



near the Palm House are excellent examples of 

 this mode of culture. To recapitulate, the best 

 positions for Lilies are those that afford partial 

 shade, protection from spring frosts and hot 

 midday sun, and coolness and moisture at the 

 root. 



Having found the right position the next 

 thing is to see that we provide the best and 



most suitable soil for the plants' requirements. 

 One can generally do this even if an ideal 

 position is not to be found. The different soils 

 suitable for the successful cultivation of Lilies 

 may be divided roughly into three classes: — 



First, any good garden soil of a fair depth, 

 well dug before planting, is suitable for L. 

 Browni, L. candidum, L. dhalcedonicum, L. 

 croceum, L. excelsum, L. Hansoni, L. Henryi, L. 

 Martagon (purple), L. pyrenaicum, L. Thunber- 

 gianum, L. tigrinum, and L. umbellatum: these 

 will all flourish in a good border with fair 

 treatment. 



Secondly, a strong soil such as a good rich 

 friable loam, not too heavy, is preferred by L. 

 auratum platyphyllum, L. Batemannice, L. colum- 

 bianum, L. Humboldti, L. Humboldti magnijicum, 

 L. Martagon album, L. dalmaticum, L. pomponum 



verum, L. rubescens, L. speciosum, L. Szovitzianum, 

 L. JVashingtonianum, and L. sulphur earn. 



Thirdly, those that require peat and moisture 

 are L. Burbanki, L. canadense, L. Grayi, L. par- 

 dalinum, L. Parry I, L. philadelphicum, and L. 

 Roezlii superbum. 



All the species here named can be grown 

 with little trouble. Those in the first list will 



. succeed in any ordinary border 



under conditions inferior to those 

 already described as essential for 

 perfect cultivation. Those in the 

 second list require a certain amount 

 of partial shade, and coolness at the 

 root, and are suitable for planting 

 in Rhododendron beds, and amongst 

 low-growing shrubs. The third 

 group comprises those that require 

 a cool shady spot such as the edge 

 of a pond or stream or in a woodland 

 glade. In addition to the species 

 already mentioned there are a great 

 number which are capable of suc- 

 cessful cultivation with a little extra 

 care. 



Autumn is the best time for plant- 

 ing. A Lily when in full growth is 

 performing two functions — one de- 

 veloping by means of its stem the 

 flowers, and the other by means of 

 its basal roots the bulb for next 

 year's growth — so that it requires 

 as much attention to its wants below 

 the ground as above. All Lilies 

 have not the same root action : some 

 make two sets of roots, one from the 

 base of the bulb, the other from the 

 bottom of the stem, whilst others pro- 

 duce roots from the base of the bulbs only. These 

 must be well established before they can flower 

 with any degree of success, as unless they are 

 well rooted the stem has nothing to draw from 

 and feed on — except the bull), which naturally 

 suffers. Those that have two root actions may 

 be planted almost at any time, for as soon as 

 the stem is about 6 inches high roots spring 

 from its base and grow with exceeding vigour, 

 supporting the stem in its development almost 

 independently of the bulb. I have often noticed 

 when lifting L. auratum that those bulbs which 

 had plenty of basal roots had new well-formed 

 bulb growth, whereas when it was absent the 

 bulb had flowered by means of the stem roots, 

 and then collapsed. 



The Martagon s, L. chakedonicum, L. Szovit- 

 zianum, L. dalmaticum, L. Humboldti, and others 



