M 



FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 



15 



LILIES 



No flower is more expressive of the idea of queenly beauty and faultless purity than the lyily. Nearly 

 every variety we offer will, with a little care, endure the severity of our winters, and some are among 

 the most hardy of our garden flowers. Most lilies last a long time after cutting and are admirably suit- 

 ed for decorative purposes. The Harrisii, Candidum and Longiflorum are the best sorts for forcing. 



Culture Out of Doors— Their culture is simple, and with a little care success is certain. The bulbs should be planted, 

 if possible, in the autamn, any time from first of October until the soil can no longer be worked; if in spring, they 



should be planted as soon as the 

 frost is out of the ground — the 

 earlier the better. 



Select a well-drained spot, dig 

 the soil deep, and make it fine, en- 

 riching it abundantly with very 

 rotten cow manure and adding a 

 liberal mixture of sand. Set the 

 bulbs from four to six inches deep, 

 according to size, sunounding 

 them with sand so as to prevent any 

 manure coming in direct contact 

 with the bulbs. During the winter 

 cover the surface of the bed with a 

 thin layer of coarse straw manure, 

 which will not only afford a slight 

 protection to the bulbs, but will 

 materially enrich the soil. In the 

 spring the manure may be removed 

 or dug in between the rows. 



Care should be taken that they 

 have proper drainage, no water be- 

 ing allowed to stand around the 

 roots. Once firmly established, 

 they should not be disturbed 

 oftener than once in five years. 



Culture for Forcing in Pots — As 



early as the bulbs can be procured 

 in autumn, from August to No- 

 vember, plant them in five or six 

 inch pots, using a compost of one- 

 half rich, loamy soil, one-quarter 

 well rotted cow manure and one- 

 quarter clean, sharp sand. This 

 compost should just cover the bulbs 

 and should be made firm by being 

 pressed closely about them. Then 

 place the pots in a cold frame, or 

 msert them in a sheltered place in 

 the garden, allowing the soil to 

 cover the tops of the pots one to 

 two inches, or place them in a cool 

 room where there is no fire. Let 

 them remain here until quite cold 

 weather comes on and the pots are 

 well filled with roots. Then remove 

 to the greenhouse, conservatory or 

 warm room, but force slowly, keep- 

 ing the temperature moderately 

 cool (about 60°) until the buds ap- 



gear. Water only sparingly till then, 

 ut when the buds have set, in- 

 crease the heat and water thor- 

 oughly. A little weak, clear ma- 

 nure water may be used with ad- 

 vantage two or three times a week, 

 after the plants have commenced 

 rapid growth. While in bloom keep 

 the plants in a dry, airy, cool situa- 

 tion to make the flowers last longer, 

 L»i» f^ J* J (Annunciation or Madonna Lily) Ready in August A hardy garden 



illUIXl Vxd.riCtlClllIIl and forcing sort that has long been one of the most popular of all lilies. 

 It is still one of the finest single clear white flowers in cultivation and its rich perfume is very attractive. 

 It should be planted in the fall and usually blooms in June. Outdoors it thrives best where it can remain undis- 

 turbed for several years. Height outdoors in the open usually three to four feet. 

 Bulbs (22 cm. and over) 15 cents each; ^1.50 per dozen, postpaid. 



I 'I* A . (Gold-Banded Lily of Japan) Ready in November This favorite garden 



lullIUm /WirStLUm niy is one of the grandest plants in cultivation. Its immense, ivory-white 

 flowers are thickly studded with yellow and crimson spots, while in the center of each petal is a golden 

 band, fading at its edges into the white. 



Such choice bulbs as we offer if well cared for will give from five to ten magnificent flowers the first year, and under 

 good cultivation will, after becoming well established, give many more. It blooms usually in July and August. Height 

 outdoors in the open usually three to five feet. We are sometimes unable to deliver this variety early enough in the 

 fall for outdoor planting, bat in that case the bulbs can be siiccessfxdly put out in the spring. 



Large bulbs, 9 to 11 inches, 20 cents each; |2.oo per dozen, postpaid. 

 I o|« w •/•! Ready in October Similar in form to Lilium Harris ii and preferred 



Lilillini LiOnglllOrillll by some to that variety. It does not come into bloom as early, but 

 the flowers are of better substance. Extensively used by florists for cut flowers. 



When grown in the open ground it blooms in June and July. Height outdoors in the open usually two to three feet. 

 The bulbs can be planted the following spring if received too late to plant in the fall. 



Japan grown bulbs, 7 to 9 inches, 12 cents each; I1.25 per dozen, postpaid. 



LILIUM AURATUM 



