MARKET PLANTS. —LAP A GERLA S—LILIUMS. 



3>7 



February, be cut down rather hard. All the strong resulting shoots usually give a 

 large panicle of white flowers. Thoy can be had in a fairly long succession, and bring 

 15s. to 18s. per dozen. 



LAPAGERIA. 



Only the white form, L. alba, is of any value for marketing purposes, the single 

 blooms fetching from 2s. to 4s. per dozen, according to the time of year. When planted 

 in tubs or small beds of coarse fibrous loam, peat, charcoal and sand, and growing 

 strongly, the plants trained not far from the glass in a greenhouse temperature, large 

 wreaths of flowers are produced during the summer and autumn. Lapagerias need 

 close attention when first planted, taking care to protect the strong young shoots that 

 spring up from the ravages of slugs, while well-established plants must have abundance 

 of water. For more cultural details see page 199, Vol. II. 



LILIUMS. 



There is a steady demand for white liliums of all kinds, and their cultivation is fairly 

 remunerative. Those who are successful with the Bermuda species (L. Harrissi) and 

 its near ally, L. longiflorum, find these profitable. Bulbs of the first-named are seldom 

 received much before September. If wanted in flower early, they should be at once 

 potted singly in 5-inch or 6-inch pots, according to their size, or three or more bulbs 

 may go in a 9 -inch pot. A porous, loamy compost suits them, and the bulbs should 

 be surrounded by sharp sand, in all cases leaving space in the pots for subsequent 

 top-dressings. Arrange the pots under a bench or stage in a moderately warm house, 

 taking care not to expose them to drip, give water if the soil is at all dry, and 

 cover with ashes. When the shoots are showing through, clear off the ashes and gradually 

 expose the growths to the light in gentle heat. Any old bulbs established much earlier 

 may be forced into flower in February or thereabouts, and those started later ought, after 

 a week's exposure to gentle heat, to flower by Easter, when they sell well. Successional 

 batches of this lily, or of L. longiflorum treated exactly the same, only not forced, or 

 only gently, will carry on the supply for many months. Plants retarded in the open 

 flower in the autumn, while some of the stronger bulbs may also throw up second 

 spikes. 



Strong bulbs of L. candidum, well established in 6 -inch pots by the autumn, may be 

 gently forced, so as to have them in flower by Easter (they are not much in demand 



