130 PICTORIAL PEAOTIGAL BULB GROWING. 



Cbapter X£.-£iIiuiii$, 



Long, long. ago, the garden folk decided that "the Eose the qneen 

 of flowers should be," but the}' forgot to find a title for the stately 

 and beautiful Lilies. Granted the Eose is queen, we are in 

 duty bound obliged to recognise her associate, the Lily, as the 

 empress of the flowers. Fascinating flowers are the Lilies— the 

 more so because they do not all exhibit their charms with equal 

 freedom in every garden. The wealthy may excel with auuatum, the 

 Golden Eayed Lily, and with Henryi, or even the somewhat 

 fastidious Humboldti ; but the _ wealth of bloom, purity, and 

 fragrance of candidum, the delightful Madonna Lily, may be 

 denied them, though it may be abundantly granted to the farm 

 labourer whose garden plot is on the same estate. 



It is sometimes very ditficult to give a reason why Liliums fail in 

 soils and positions where they may ^ reasonably be expected to 

 thrive. From a gardener's point of view there are three distinct 

 classes of Lilies, excluding those that are only suitable for cultivation 

 under glass, and it not infrequently happens that the likes and 

 dislikes of the various species are misunderstood or left out of 

 consideration by intending planters. This is a fruitful source of 

 failure, as also is careless planting. According to the size of the bulb 

 and the height of the species, the depth at which it is placed should 

 range from 3 inches to 10 inches. Other important points to be 

 observed at planting time are to put the bulb on a firm base and 

 surround it w^ith sand. A firm base is necessary to preveiit the 

 bulb from being " hung " when rain follows and the soil settles 

 down. 



Not only the ciuestion of soil, but also that of height, must be 

 duly taken into account before planting is begun. Much time, 

 money, and patience are annually wasted in attempts to cultivate 

 Lilies that might be saved by the exercise of a little forethought 

 and care in the initial stages of w^ork. Liliums range in stature 

 from the lowly forms of elegans and concolor, which often attain 

 a height of only 6 inches, up to the 10 feet or 15 feet attained by 

 the noble giganteum when it is w^ell established in a place that 

 meets its requirements. 



Shelter from cold winds, as well as from scorching sunshine, is 

 appreciated by Lilies ; but this must not be taken to mean that 

 these handsome flowers grow well beneath the overhanging branches 

 of trees. They do nothing of the kind ; but what they do love, or 

 at least the stronger growers, is a home among thinly planted shrubs, 



