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ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



popular plant may be materially enhanced, no excuse will be 

 necessary in introducing a few remarks upon the subject in this 

 Journal, more especially when it is considered that it is next to 

 impossible to have a too large supply of them in flower, from the 

 earliest months of the year onward until it may be possible to 

 gather them from outdoor beds. As a British plant, it should be 

 essentially within the province of our craft to push the " Lily of 

 the Yalley " to its utmost cultural limits, without the aid or in- 

 tervention of foreign ingenuity, or even more favourable climate. 

 Yet true it is, nevertheless, that the Dutch, or others, are now 

 making a profit by growing patches of these suitable for forcing, 

 and then sending them to this country by many tons' weight an- 

 nually, in company with bulbs which we are obliged to look to 

 them for. There are two distinct features, in the cultivation of 

 this plant, operating antagonistically to the simple efforts hitherto 

 expended in its culture, namely : — a great dislike of being uprooted 

 and separated into smaller portions, which do not very readily 

 attach themselves to the fresh soil ; and, when once they have 

 taken possession of the same, such an extraordinary power of mul- 

 tiplication of all parts that they very quickly become very densely 

 packed together, each thereby neutralizing the efforts of the others 

 to attain a fine crown likely to flower in the ensuing spring, and, 

 even should it flower, operating prejudicially as to its fineness. 

 Hence the want of greater success in forcing plants grown after 

 the ordinary method. 



"With the above suggestions as a basis to our subsequent ope- 

 rations, a piece of ground should be prepared by making a trench 

 a foot and a half in depth, adding abundance of manure, and 

 working it to the necessary space which may be required, ac- 

 cording to the quantity needed. When finished, the soil should 

 be trodden firmly over its whole surface. Forming little bundles 

 of from two to five individuals, and with all the roots possible at- 

 tached and uninjured, dibble the bundles firmly in rows, some 20 

 inches apart. Fix them firmly in the soil, putting a thick layer 

 of leaf-mould over all when finished. With proper attention and 

 keeping them free of weeds &c, they will be fit for forcing in three 

 years. Hence it will simply be necessary to plant a small space 

 annually, to ensure after the above date a constant succession of 

 excellent patches. A west aspect is the most suitable. 



