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FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
Lilium speciosum. — This superb plant and its allies have unquestionably been 
the most attractive objects in the London nurseries during the late season. We 
allude more particularly to the one figured in another part of the present number, 
and L. lancifolium album, though the latter is by far the least beautiful of the three. 
On account of their extreme scarcity, they have hitherto been cultivated only in the 
greenhouse, and no attempts have, we believe, been made to grow them in the 
open air. Little doubt, however, can be entertained that they would thrive well 
in such a situation during the summer months, as so many of the plants introduced 
from the same country have been found to succeed in the open ground, with a 
trifling protection in the winter ; but the trial must be made with all due precau- 
tion. Should they prove capable of enduring such treatment, its effect would 
doubtless be to enhance their beauty, for a full exposure to the solar influences 
could not fail of producing favourable results. 
In confirmation of this opinion, we may mention a remarkable variation in the 
colour of the flowers of L. speciosum, which occurred in several instances during 
the last summer. We saw plants of this species in flower in 1837, and the same 
specimens bloomed most profusely in 1838. In the latter season, the colours of 
the flowers were so much paler, that it was considered identical with L. lancifolium 
roseum by many who had only made a cursory examination of the last-named 
plant. The cause of this difference may evidently be traced to the general obscura- 
tion of the sun during the summer of 1838, and to the plants having been kept at 
a pretty considerable distance from the glass ; so that, if this inference is correct, 
the advantages of complete exposure may be considered as demonstrated. 
The principal reason why these beautiful plants remain so scarce, appears to 
be the great difficulty which attends their propagation. To remove this obstacle, 
we shall now describe the system practised in many of the principal metropolitan 
nurseries. A bulb of the sort which it is desired to propagate being obtained, it 
is taken from the pot while in a dormant state, but just before the period at which 
it begins to grow, a number of the external scales are carefully removed, and the 
bulb returned to its original position. These scales, or cloves, are then planted 
separately into small pots, in a light soil, and the pots plunged in a slight bottom 
heat. They must be sparingly watered with lukewarm water, and after a short 
period, they should be examined, when a number of small bulbs will be found to 
have formed around the base of the clove. These may be carefully detached when 
about the size of peas, if they are not sufficiently numerous, in which case others will 
subsequently be formed ; but if a great quantity is not desired, they may be allowed 
to remain on the parent till they are somewhat more advanced. With careful 
potting, and judicious attention, all these young bulbs will ultimately form flowering 
plants ; and, by means of the adoption of this practice, we hope soon to see these 
delightful objects in the garden of every admirer of lilies. 
VOL. V. NO. LX. N N 
