416 JOURNAL OF THK ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



AN AMATEUK'S ATTEMPT TO GROW LILIES ON CHALKY 



CLAY. 



By Hexky Jonas, F.R.H.S. 



As I only planted L. auratum, L. canadense flavnm, and L. Broirnii in 

 a shaded Rhododendron bed three years ago, my experience can be of little 

 value, but I will briefly describe my surroundings, in hope that others 

 with similar soil, &c., may be encouraged to try these lovely flowers. 



My newly-made garden is 560 feet above sea, slopes gently to north- 

 east, and is surrounded by old oak and other forest trees. I thus get 

 perfect shelter from all winds, and but little sun. The top soil contains a 



Fig. 215. -L. auratum. 



good proportion of vegetable matter, being old woodland, and the dead roots 

 no doubt assist in draining the subsoil, which is a pure red clay full of 

 large flints, and rests upon the solid chalk, in places not more than 3 feet 

 below. This clay on opening up breaks into large flat-sided cubes, is very 

 unmanageable if worked in wet weather, but pulverises perfectly on 

 exposure. 



The first summer the three Lilies named grew 2 feet, 2 feet 6 inches 

 and 3 feet in height, giving, each of them, three to five fine flowers ; and 

 these being the first I had seen flowering in the open air I straightway 

 fell in love with them, and have since planted some 200 bulbs. 



The second year the L. auratum had flat-sided fasciated stems, but 



