^96 JOURNAL OF THE BOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I mentioned just now that the bulk of the Lily collection at Kew is 

 cultivated in this way, chiefly in the large sunk terrace garden on the 

 west of the Palm House and its surroundings. 



It is surprising to find what a large number of species is represented 

 as grown in this way with more or less successful results, the more 

 remarkable because at one time, twenty-five years ago, very few species 

 could be grown successfully at Kew. 



There are now at least twenty species grown in the open among 

 masses of shrubs, and I could not point to a more instructive object-lesson 

 than this Kew collection, which at the present moment (July) is at its 

 best and open to all to study. 



Some of the groups are exceptionally fine, and particularly the 

 American Turk's-cap Lilies and the Japanese aiiratum, speciosum, and 

 jcqjonicum sections. One may see auratum, particularly the platy- 

 phyllum variety, 8 feet high and with stems an inch in diameter ; 

 loardalinum rising out of the Rhododendrons 6-7 feet high or taller ; and 

 equally fine are superhum, Szovitsianum, Hansoni, and others. 



Opinions may vary as to the effect of Lilies rising with their flower- 

 heads out of shrub undergrowth, but all will agree that under these 

 conditions a large number of Lilies succeed perfectly, and produce a grand 

 efl'ect of colour at flower time. 



For my own part, I think that such Lilies as pardalinum, superhum, 

 clalmaticum, and other tall-growing kinds lose much of their graceful 

 habit of growth if only the upper parts of their stems are free above the 

 shrubs. I like to see them in a sheltered spot where their elegant 

 swaying stems can be seen free, giving an additional charm to the 

 flowers. 



In growing Lilies in the open like this an undergrowth of shrubs is 

 essential in order to give protection to the tender shoots in spring and 

 early summer, when icy-cold winds .sometimes ruin them for the season. 

 It therefore seems to m3 the wise">t plan is to choose the right kind of 

 shrub as an undergrowth, which will thrive in the same soil as the 

 particular Lily it shelters, and yet not grow so dense or tall as to over- 

 power it. 



The common practice is to plant peat-loving Lilies among Rhodo- 

 dendrons. This is generally satisfactory up to the time when the 

 Rhododendrons close in upon the Lilies and smother them, for though 

 the Lilies like the shelter they resent the heavy shade. 



I gathered from Mr. Wilson the other day that he has come to the 

 conclusion, after years of experience, that it is unwise to plant Lilies 

 among Rhododendrons on this account, because at the outset the Rhodo- 

 dendrons must be planted tolerably thick to give effectual shelter, but 

 with Lilies that are likely to remain undisturbed for some years the 

 Rhododendrons overpower them, and one has to lift both Rhododendrons 

 and Lilies and replant at wider intervals. He favours for peat-loving 

 Lilies such dwarfer and slower-growing shrubs as Azaleas, Andromedas, 

 Kalmias, Vacciniums, Pernettyas, and Heaths, all of which give protec- 

 tion to the young shoots in their early stage and make beautiful masses 

 out of which the Lilies rise. 



It is an easy matter to find suitable, peat-loving shrubs to associate 



