128 LILIUM AURANTIACUM. 
of great improvement under more generous treatment. Nevertheless, the flowers 
were, with all these detracting circumstances, highly ornamental, presenting a 
delicacy of colour and texture really admirable. 
Little doubt can now be entertained of the capability of the Japan Lilies for 
existing in the open ground, if properly sheltered in the winter ; and still less can 
it be questioned that such a situation would be perfectly congenial. The tendency 
they manifest, when kept in a house, to commence their growth so early in the 
season, would be overruled by the natural coldness of the external soil and atmo- 
sphere, as such early excitation is obviously occasioned by the artificial temperature 
of these media in all plant structures. This, therefore, need not be considered an 
impediment to their more decided naturalization. Besides, a hand-glass would be 
alone sufficient to preserve them from spring frosts, and this could very easily be 
furnished. 
We are the more urgent in our recommendation to adopt this mode of treatment, 
because fully convinced of its appropriateness. Lilies, by being naturally dormant 
in the winter, and having no part of their substance exposed to the action of frost, 
are far from yielding so readily to injury as shrubs, or even fibrous-rooted herbaceous 
plants. They are likewise much more conveniently protected, because the spot 
they occupy might be covered with a close wooden case, without depriving them of 
any of the influences necessary to their health. Indeed, a covering of the description 
here suggested would be the most suitable, as it would exclude both wet and frost ; 
the absence of the former always being a more eftectual barrier to cold. 
An excellent method of propagating these plants, has been described in 
Vol. Y. p. 273. We witnessed, last year, the performance of an experiment for 
increasing Lilies, adopted simultaneously in two celebrated nursery establishments, 
which was conducted with the view of inducing the emission of buds or bulbs 
from the axils of the leaves. The plants operated upon were L. speciosa, and 
L. aurantiacum ; but although every necessary attention was bestowed, it utterly 
failed in both instances. This is mentioned, partly to eulogize the ingenuity 
displayed in the execution of these processes, and particularly to apprize our 
readers of the futility of making similar attempts. 
We refer to Yol. Y. p. 2, for the origin of the generic name. 
