HOW TO FOT LILimiS. 



131 



such as Elioclodeiidrons, where the needful shelter is afforded 

 naturally in the spring time, and the bulbs and stem roots are 

 protected from the hot summer sun. The mention of stem roots 

 may here be taken advantage of to explain that many Liliums 

 not only root out from the base of the bulb, as do Daffodils and the 

 like, but also produce roots from the base of the ascending growth. 

 This peculiarity at once suggests that an annual top dressing of 

 leaf soil, or a light, rich compost, will materially assist the plants. 



Many of the best Lilies are magnificent pot plants, hence they 

 have long been popular for window culture, for the adornment of 

 the conservatory, and for the supply of Covent Garden and other 

 distributing centres for choice pot plants and cut flowers. Un- 

 questionably the best Lilies for pot culture are longifiorum, its 



FIG. 45.-HOW TO POT LILIUMS. 



variety Harrisii, both the red and white forms of speciosum (also 

 well known as lancifolium), auratum, and Henry i. With the 

 advent of cold storage chambers, and their installation by some of 

 the leading nurserymen, it is now possible to have Lilies in flower 

 over a very long period by starting retarded bulbs at intervals. 



For the accommodation of Lilies it is desirable, though not 

 essential, that in relation to their diameter the pots should be 

 deeper than is usual. This permits the grower to take full advantage 

 of the stem roots in his endeavour to produce the best possible 

 crop of flowers : Xature and art may well combine to secure this 

 desirable end. Each pot must be provided with a perfect drainage 

 system, and over the crocks it is a good plan to place a layer of the 

 rougher portion of the compost : then add a layer of soil — consisting 

 of 4 parts of loam to 1 of leaf soil, with a little sand — and on 

 this place the bulb firmly, surrounding it with a handful of sand, 

 and just covering the bulb with the compost. This will leave the 



