THE LILIES OF THE FIELD. 



357 



only rival being an equal mass of L. auratiaji. This is 

 often termed the "Queen of Lilies." It is one of the 

 many floral beauties for which we must thank Japan. 

 The broad golden band, extending from the base to the 

 tip of each petal, may be regarded as its one unchanging 

 glory. The flower has been greatly improved since its 

 first introduction, both in size and coloring. One variety 

 has quite a marked violet stripe, and the velvety dots 

 vary a good deal in color. Not the least among its good 

 points is its perfect hardiness, but this may be said of 

 most Japanese lilies. 



It is hardly necessary to remind bulb lovers that 

 nearly all of this class should be planted in the autumn. 

 October is a good month for such operations, and there 

 is usually plenty of fine weather, though it is not quite 

 so romantic to stay at home and spade up a lily bed as 

 to wander off in search of autumn leaves. One can 

 hardly expect to grow every variety with equal suc- 

 cess, especially since they vary a good deal in choice of 

 soil, but most of them flourish with ordinary care. 

 One point to be observed, however, is deep planting. 

 Large bulbs, such as L. aurat 11717, should be planted 

 eight to twelve inches deep ; smaller bulbs, four to 

 eight inches. Another point to be observed is the 

 purchase of good strong bulbs, which should be planted 

 before they have time to become shriveled It is a mis- 

 take to buy cheap, job-lot bulbs of any kind ; many 

 fall into this error in purchasing winter-blooming bulbs 

 for the house, and much dissatisfaction ensues, which 

 usually reacts, not very justly, on the seller. 



June Work among Bulbs. — The spring blooming of 

 Dutch bulbs is always so delightful and satisfactory that 

 it gives us an enthusiasm for bulb-planting. Often we 

 wish that our entire gardens might be planted with 

 hardy flowering bulbs and shrubs, so sure are they to 

 bloom, so independent of our care, and so brightly and 

 delicately beautiful. 



Autumn planting does not monopolize all the bulbs, 

 nor yet the spring season. If, perhaps, the dweller in 

 cities comes with June to his country home, there are 

 yet some bulbs, which planted now, will bloom before 

 frost. In the southland, where the summers are long, 

 gladioluses, tuberoses, tigridias and dahlias are planted for 

 succession throughout the month of June. But north 

 of Washington the tuberose and dahlia have not time to 

 develop bloom outdoors after such late planting. 

 Tuberoses that are to bloom for the early winter or 

 holiday season may be planted at the north in June, 

 preferably in sunken pots, so that their roots may not be 

 disturbed when they are lifted in September, to grace 

 the window or conservatory. They will not need to be 

 hurried forward with copious watering and stimulants, 

 as are the bulbs for autumn outdoor bloom. If planted 

 in rich soil, full sunlight, and given water occasionally in 

 dry weather, the independent bulb-spirit in them will 

 carry them safely through the summer and perfect a fine 

 spike of buds before September. The opening of these 

 buds can be hastened or retarded at will, in proportion 

 to the amount of light, heat and water given after the 



plants are lifted from the border. Tuberoses that have 

 been started in the house for early autumn blooming are 

 turned from their pots into outdoor beds early in June. 



The gladiolus is a prime favorite among bulbs for 

 summer gardens. It is a flower that any one can grow, 

 and is lovely enough to satisfy the most exacting of tastes. 

 Delicate shades of color, and deep, dark, rich and bril- 

 liant ones, all come within its range. The gladiolus 

 seems to have adopted America as its chosen country, 

 for it seems to thrive so well in no other. It has been 

 greatly petted and improved in France, but in Europe is 

 subject to a disease which seldom attacks it upon 

 American soil; to plant a gladiolus bulb here seems to 

 insure a good spike of flowers. It is not strange, there- 

 fore, that this bulb has become so popular among 

 florists for exhibition purposes and floral decorations. 



For early bloom the gladiolus is planted at the north 

 during May, Southern growers begin to plant in April 

 and continue planting, at intervals of a week or more, 

 until June 30. Bulbs planted later than June 15, north 

 of Washington, would hardly bloom before frost. 



The gladiolus grows well in any rich well-drained soil. 

 Its flower-spikes are larger and more richly colored if 

 the bulbs are planted in a sunny situation. For best 

 effects, plant in large clumps, setting the bulbs four or 

 five inches deep and the same distance apart. They 

 will require but little care until blooming time, when 

 their rich, heavy spikes of flowers will need some sup- 

 port. This may be given by means of stakes, if planted 

 in clumps, or wires, if planted in rows. Named flowers 

 of any kind are usually most satisfactory, but unnamed 

 collections of gladiolus in assorted colors often give fine 

 flowers. The only objection to these assortments is that 

 there is so little difference between many of the shades 

 of color. Some of the newer varieties of gladiolus are 

 both fine and costly, but a number of old, standard va- 

 rieties that cost only 15 or 20 cents each, will give flow- 

 ers quite as beautiful in their way as varieties costing 

 $4 or $5 each. Snow White, lately introduced, and 

 Gladiolus Coh'illi'i, a fine little white dwarf for winter 

 forcing, are nearer pure white than any varieties grown. 

 After frost in cold climates, gladiolus bulbs should be 

 dug, dried, and stored in a dry place for winter keeping. 

 In the south they are merely given a slight protection of 

 leaves or evergreen boughs. 



Tigridias require the same treatment as gladioluses, 

 olus, and like them, may be planted in June. Their 

 gayly-spotted flowers, of shining surface and silken 

 texture, are airily poised upon slender stems, so that, 

 fluttering in a gentle breeze, they look much like but- 

 terflies. This butterfly beauty lasts b u t for a day ; 

 the flowers open early in the morning, and at sundown 

 hang withered. But through the sheathing spath at the 

 base of the withered flower other flowers are sent up 

 each day, so that a spike really blooms for a week or more. 

 The tigridias are old-fashioned flowers, known in our 

 grandmothers' gardens as Sicilian lilies. I remember one 

 sweet old garden where, when a child, I counted 100 of 

 these airy blossoms dancing above a single clump. 



