390 



JOURN.AX OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



AuraUim does well, but the bulbs must be replaced at no long intervals 

 to make sure of a display. Virginale is best, ^'ery often the small bulbs 

 do better than the large ones. 



Candidum, with me as with others, is capricious. (Figs. 203, 204.) 

 This year it is splendid. Care must be taken not to plant it too deep. 

 It should be given as sunny a position as possible. 



I have found many Lilies do well among the roots of trees, but I put 

 that down mainly to the fact that my garden has an excess of moisture, 

 and that the tree-roots help the Lilies to bear with it. 



In ordinary seasons the plan of planting Lily bulbs in positions secured 

 against excessive moisture by the presence of tree-roots succeeds well. 

 This exceptional season (1901), however, has been so dry that the bulbs 

 have not obtained sufficient moisture. I have never seen the Lilies 

 look so unhappy from sheer want of water. 



I am, by careful experiment, arriving at the conclusion that Lilies are 

 not so impatient of manure as I used to be told they were. This year, 



Fi<;. 204. — L. CAXDinr^r. (Showing habit.) 



certainly, they did not object to what I may call a mellow vintage of it. 

 In a wet season the case would possibly be very diflterent. 



The principal points to observe with a view to success are — Position 

 and exposure, drainage, soil. 



1. Above all, assure your drainage. 



2. Get new soil from time to time. 



3. Never move a Lily that is doing well. 



4. Give an eye to the flowers, lest insects work mischief. 



Lilies may be exacting and fastidious, but care and patience can do 

 much ; and if sometimes one's losses almost induce despair, yet occasion- 

 ally an unexpected success makes up for many failures. Moreover, in a 

 garden like mine, which fails to conciliate the Rose, Lilies go far towards 

 providing that fragrance which so many flowers lack, and consequently 

 (like a beautiful woman without a sweet temper) fail to charm. " Fortune 

 favours the brave " is a motto which, if novelists speak truth, has helped 

 many a lover to triumph, and will serve equally well for the grower of 

 Lilies ; and if success, like the lover's deUght, does to some extent go 

 by favour," yet w^e may most of us, even in the North, snatch enough of 

 it to make Lily-growing a dehghtful occupation. 



