LILT. 



181 



size and rigor, far surpassed our ideas of the capability 

 of the plant. We have seen the L. superbum, grown in 

 this manner, more than eight ieet high, with a corres- 

 ponding size of stalk and number of flowers. In fact, 

 we do not know of a grander object in the garden than 

 a group of this Lily grown under such circumstances. 



In a moderately wet season a mulch of living plants 

 is not only beneficial, but ornamental as well ; for this 

 purpose we should recommend the use of some low-grow- 

 ing plant, the Verbena, Dwarf Petunia, or any other plant 

 that will not offend the eye and cover the ground quickly, 

 continuing in flower the whole season. "We have known 

 good effects to come from mulching L. longiflorum with 

 Pansies. In a dry season living plants will not do as 

 well as some other forms of mulch, as they draw too 

 much moisture from the Lilies, instead of protecting 

 them. For field culture a mulching of coarse hay or 

 straw answers well, but in the garden that, or any other 

 dry mulch, would appear unsightly. 



Partial Shade Necessary. — The next precaution 

 is to have the Lily bed partially shaded, either by shrub- 

 bery, or so situated that the buildings will afford the 

 necessary shade ; or the plants may be protected from 

 the midday sun by a light lattice roofing, say six feet 

 above the plants. An excellent plan is to put np a light 

 frame sufficiently large to surround the bed, and cover with 

 some very light and open canvas or cloth, to be used in 

 excessively hot weather. This will not only prolong the 

 season of flowering, but the flowers will be much larger, 

 the colors and markings more clearly defined, and the 

 petals will expand perfectly, without that tendency to 

 dry up or wither at the points, and the whole plant will 

 be stronger and more productive. 



Best Soil For Lilies. — What soils do Lilies re- 

 quire, or in what kind do they succeed best ? These 

 questions are frequently asked, and seem to be of great 



