384 JOURNAL OF THE ROY.IL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It is difficult to get at the exact origin of the many variations of such 

 Japan Lilies as L. auratum, or of L. speciosum {L. lancifolium) ; but it 

 is fair to assume that such^fine strong forms of the one, such as 

 L. a. platyphyllum, virginale, cruentum, ilc., were either wild or garden 

 seedlings, as also were those variations of L. speciosum, such as 

 L. s. ruhrum, album, Krcetzeri, Melpomene, and others. Now, broadly 

 speaking, all these forms are more vigorous and more easily grown, and 

 in other ways more satisfying, than are the common types, and the lesson 

 they teach us seems to be an obvious one. 



No plant, no group of species, can be said to be at its best in our 

 gardens unless it is, at least now and then, reproduced from seeds. 

 There are, I know, some few seeming exceptions, such as the Banana or 

 the Pineapple, but these only serve to prove the rule. All our finest of 

 crops in field or in garden require new life and vigour infused into them 

 from time to time, and this, in the case of the cereals, the root 

 crops, and many other flowers, fruits, and vegetables, is efl'ected by 

 hybridism, cross-breeding, or by simple seminal reproduction and selec- 

 tion, such as I especially recommend in the case of all our best and 

 most handsome garden Lilies. 



I need not go into details as to the culture of Lilies from seed, as 

 each grower who really wishes to so grow them will hr^ve ability and 

 patience enough to strike out the methods and technique best adapted to 

 his own climate and soil. All over England and Ireland there are here 

 and there especially good Lily soils where they luxuriate ; with all 

 natural advantages seedling Lily culture would not be a difficult or 

 exacting pursuit, and the results might prove very far-reaching and 

 highly satisfactory to the cultivator. 



