LILY. 



189 



grown here will come into flower much sooner after 

 being brought into the house, than do those from foreign 

 countries. While this is the best method of growing 

 them, the more common one is to take the 'bulbs, as 

 imported, pot them from the first of October to the first 

 of December, plunging them in the same manner, and 

 in all respects treat in the same way. This does not give 

 the bulbs a chance to fill the pots with roots, or to make 

 the preliminary growth so essential to their perfect 

 development. If the florist grows his own bulbs he can 

 have them potted by the first of August, and they will 

 very soon commence their season's work. 



Treatment After Flowering in the Green- 

 house. — Soon after flowering, the pots can be put in 

 any out-of-the-way place, either in a cool shed, or under 

 the benches, there to remain until they can be planted 

 in the field for future use. There they should be liber- 

 ally treated, both as regards care in cultivation, and in 

 having a liberal supply of plant food. Bulbs that have 

 been forced should have a rest of, at least, two years in 

 the field, before they can be successfully grown again 

 in the greenhouse. 



The Bermuda Lily. — This is the popular name 

 of L. longiflorum, var. eximium, first brought prom- 

 inently to the attention of the florists, by H. K. Harris, 

 of Philadelphia, under the name of L. Harrisii. It 

 was also sent out under the name of L. floribundum. 

 It is often called Easter Lily. 



These bulbs are almost exclusively grown for forcing- 

 purposes on the Island of Bermuda, where they perfect 

 their growth early in July. This fact is important, as 

 bulbs matured at that time will perfect their flowers in 

 the greenhouse fully two months earlier than those 

 grown at the North, where they do not ripen until Octo- 

 ber. The methods of cultivating this, the most showy 

 of Lilies for Easter decoration, are variable, each florist 



