POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



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The following varieties are most suitable for 

 this purpose: — L. auratum and its varieties, 

 L. speciosum and its varieties, L. longiflorum and 

 its varieties, L. Hansoni, L. tigrinum, L. excelsum, 

 L. umbellatum, L. ccmdidum, L. Hennji, L. sul- 

 phur earn. 



The bulbs should be placed in pots about 

 two and a half times their diameter, and 2 inches 

 below the soil. Good turfy loam, peat, and 



sand make an excellent compost. Plunge the 

 pots in ashes outside under a wall or in a cold 

 frame, and as soon as root action has well com- 

 menced take them into the greenhouse as 

 required. When the bulbs are well rooted 

 care must be exercised in watering, as if once 

 they get dry serious damage is quickly done. 

 Give L. auratum plenty of shade and moisture; 

 the variety platyphyllum is a noble pot -plant, 



Fig. 572.— Bulb proliferation of Lilium pardalinum. 



and very reliable. After flowering they should 

 be plunged outside in a cool shady border, and 

 when the foliage has quite died down, stored 

 for the winter in a cool frame or outhouse. In 

 early spring they should be repotted or top- 

 dressed with fresh soil. 



Another method of cultivating Lilies under 

 glass is that adopted by Mr. G. F. Wilson, of 

 Weybridge, who grows them in pots in an 

 unheated greenhouse. In this way nearly all 

 known varieties can be grown successfully. 

 Protected from wind and wet the flowers are 

 produced in a state of perfect beauty, and, if 

 required, can be taken into the house without 

 cutting the flower stems. In cutting the flowers 

 of Lilies, do not take more of the stem than is 

 absolutely necessary, as the more stem left the 

 better the new bulb growth will be. 



Not much improvement has been effected by 

 the hybridization of Lilies. Hybrids have been 

 raised, but as a rule they are inferior to their 

 parents. The species do not readily cross with 

 each other. L. Dalhansoni and L. Marhan are 

 two good hybrids, but still not superior to 

 vol. i. 



their parents; L. excelsum or testaceum is said 

 to be a hybrid between L. chalcedonicum and 

 L. candidwn, raised by Louis van Houtte, and 

 is decidedly an addition to our gardens; L. 

 kewense, a hybrid between L. Henry i and L. 

 leucanthum, is a new and interesting Lily of 

 Kew origin, and which bears some resemblance 

 to a pale form of L. auratum. It is rather 

 remarkable, considering what an advance has 

 been made in the improvement of so many 

 garden plants by cross-breeding, that so little 

 has been accomplished with Lilium. It almost 

 seems as if nature was satisfied with her own 

 work, and objected to have it improved by man. 

 Few new Lilies have been introduced to 

 cultivation of late years as compared with 

 twenty years ago, and of the few L. Henryi 

 stands first. This has proved to be a thoroughly 

 good doer under all conditions. L. sulphureum 

 ( JVallichianum superbum), from Burma and China 

 is another grand hardy Lily. L. Lowii, also from 

 Burma, has a good constitution. L. rubellum, 

 very distinct and pretty, has on the whole been 

 disappointing. Dr. Henry has found several 



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