LILIES IN THE OPEN-AIR GARDEN AND WOODLAND. 



395 



In planting a woodland with Lilies close consideration must be given 

 to the particular spots suitable for the various kinds, and especially to 

 avoid planting Lilies where the roots of a hungry tree will quickly absorb 

 all nutriment and moisture from the Lily beds. But there should be 

 open places for Lilies at some distance from the trees, where their shade 

 would be cast on the Lilies, if they require it, during some part of the 

 day. 



Fully-exposed spots can generally be found in the vicinity of the 

 woodland Lily garden for those Lilies that require a shadeless position, 

 and if the place selected is a slope facing south or west, with a back- 

 ground of trees to the north and east, such would be the precise spot for 

 those kinds mentioned in the first group that require an open situation 

 and a stiffish soil. 



Though a Lily garden in and about a wood or coppice is the place 

 where Lilies flourish and present their fullest beauty in combination with 

 tree and shrub foliage, I do not mean to infer that only under such 

 conditions can they be grown well ; but what I wish to convey is the fact 

 that one can grow, under those conditions, the largest number of kinds 

 with the minimum amount of attention. 



Lilies for Borders. 



Now a few remarks on Lilies in the open border away from the shade 

 of trees. We all know that there are several kinds that one can grow in 

 the ordinary hardy flower border, and they mix in a charming way with 

 other flowers. 



The most prominent of these are candidiim, crocettm, chalcedonicum, 

 excelsum or testaceum, elegans, tigrinum, 'poinponium, injrenaicum, 

 Szovitsianzim, dauricu7n, longiflorum, and even the Martagons and 

 speciosum. 



These I have seen perfectly grown in what is called an ordinary border 

 of common garden soil, with, perhaps, some better kind of soil placed 

 about their bulbs at planting time. 



Most of the Lilies named are strong growers, and will continue 

 satisfactory if they are occasionally lifted and replanted in a fresh spot in 

 the border. 



The worst place for Lilies is the margin of an ordinary shrubbery, 

 planted near to hungry, large-growing shrubs, which absorb all nutriment 

 and moisture from the surrounding soil. 



In catalogues one sometimes finds it mentioned that such-and-such a 

 Lily is suitable for shrubbery margins, and this is interpreted generally 

 to mean the spaces betw^een such as Laurels, Lilacs, and so forth, the 

 result being failure and disappointment. 



Another phase of Lily culture, though not so nature-like as wood- 

 land culture, is that of growing Lilies in the open in masses in associa- 

 tion with various kinds of dwarf shrubs, to serve as a shelter during the 

 early stages of growth and as a foil or groundwork for the Lilies when in 

 flower. 



This is a beautiful way of growing Lilies, and one that is particularly 

 suitable for large gardens and public parks, where the eflect of large 

 masses of colour is so desirable. 



