90 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



name of lesser lemon lily refers more particularly to the 

 leaves, which are cjuite slender and grasslike. This also ac- 

 counts for its frequently being listed as HcincrocaUis graiiiini- 

 folia and H. graininca. The flowers are pale yellow. In 

 recent catalogues still another species is listed as H. citrina. 

 This is said to come from China and to have pale sulphur- 

 yellow flowers which are fragrant with the odor of citron. 

 It blooms in July. Its introduction is so recent that very little 

 seems to be known about it. 



The last of the genus is the orange day lily {H. auranfi- 

 aciiin ) wdiich blooms in July and August. Its flowers are a 

 pleasing shade of deep orange-yellow and are delightfully 

 fragrant. It is reputed to be not cjuite hardy in some parts of 

 our country but a long'er trial is needed to settle this point. 

 It has a variety, major, which is larger in every way than the 

 type, and several hybrids between this and other species are 

 known, most of them said to be hardier than the type. 



The day lilies are rather fond of the sunlight if the soil 

 is moist but they are generally a rug'g'ed lot and thrive in 

 almost any soil. In deep shade they do not produce as many 

 flowers as they otherwise would. The taller species are 

 valued for planting cn the borders of ponds and water gar- 

 dens. Most nurserymen can supply the different species, the 

 price l^eing about fifteen cents each. Those who have not 

 made the acquaintance of the rarer species have a treat still in 

 store for them. 



