LILY. 



179 



six inches in depth, of newly fallen leaves, kept in place 

 by some brush or a few pieces of board. Any coarse hay 

 is also an excellent -protection ; cornstalks answer a very 

 good purpose ; in short, whatever material is the most 

 convenient that will accomplish the purpose, is the best. 



Wet Soil Injurious. — The next important cause 

 of failure in Lily culture is in planting in wet situations, 

 much water around the bulbs in winter being about as 

 injurious to the plant as much frost. In situations 

 where water covers the ground for any great length of 

 time when the bulbs are at rest, or during winter, they 

 will not be likely to succeed, and are liable to perish. 

 There are many gardens noted for their productiveness, 

 which cannot be planted before the first of May, because 

 of too much moisture ; such a one is not the congenial 

 home of the Lily. The remedy is to plant in a raised 

 bed. This should be, when finished, at least eighteen 

 inches above the level, and is best made in the following- 

 manner : Lay out a bed of the required size and desired 

 shape ; upon this place any rough stones, about a foot 

 high, irregularly, so that the spaces between them will 

 not be more than their diameter ; fill these spaces with 

 good strong soil even with the tops of the stones ; partly 

 rotted turf is the best ; on this soil place the bulbs, about 

 eighteen inches apart each way ; then between the bulbs 

 place stones of about six inches in diameter, in the same 

 irregular manner as the first layer ; then cover the whole 

 with the same preparation gf soil that was placed between 

 the first layer of stones, and the work is complete. The 

 bulbs should not be placed nearer than a foot from the 

 edge of the bed, which should be sloping and neatly 

 sodded, and should always be as closely cut as the lawn 

 during summer. This bed will require the same mulch- 

 ing during the winter as though the bulbs were planted 

 in the ordinary border. With these precautions all gar- 

 den Lilies can be grown in perfection, and will reward 



