THE REGAL LILY 5 
larger bulb will result from transplanting and spacing the bulblets 
after one year’s growth. Some economies are effected, however, by 
the two-year method. Saving the expense of handling, economy of 
space, more effective use of fertilizer, and decided economy of any 
mulching that may be done go a long way toward offsetting a some- 
what increased growth that may be gained by spacing earlier. 
Again, it takes three growing seasons to make a first-sized bulb in 
outdoor planting, and this can be accomplished in the same time 
with the fewer handlings. But the transplanting can be done after 
the first year’s growth and the stocks spaced to stand two years there- 
after, and whether the stocks are left in the seed bed two seasons 
or in the first spaced planting for that length of time may not be 
especially important except in the economy of space and material. 
One transplanting by either method may serve to bring a batch of 
seedlings along so that the majority of them are merchantable, but 
transplanting at the end of the second year economizes in the pro- 
tection of the stocks the first two years. 
If seedlings are started inside and transplanted to the field seven 
to nine in each row, they can remain without disturbance for the 
full three-year period, provided that suitable fertility is maintained 
by a top dressing of rotted manure so applied as to serve the dual 
purpose of fertilizer and mulch. 
FALL OR SPRING PLANTING OF BULBS 
The Regal lily will not make root or other growth at low tem- 
peratures. Moving in the spring rather than in the fall, as is done 
with some of the common species of lilies, is therefore advisable. If 
stocks are dug and reset after October little or no root action takes 
place until spring. ‘The bulbs are buried in the soil and remain all 
winter without taking hold of the ground. It has been the writer’s 
experience that especially in Virginia better success always accom- 
panies spring planting, although no instance has occurred when the 
bulbs have been lost through fall planting. It is simply better for 
the lily and more in keeping with its habits to move it in the spring 
than in the fall. 
When bulbs are merchandised, however, it is likely, on account of 
trade demands, that digging must be done in the fall when other 
lilies are put on the market and also when this one is needed, if bulbs 
are wanted for forcing. However this may be, it seems from the 
writer’s experience that better growth is obtained if spring handling 
takes place, and it is believed that such practice is advisable when- 
ever possible. Spring planting is possible with all stocks except 
those dug for the market, and when winter protection 1s necessary 
this practice is always the most economical of space and labor. 
' Some European growers habitually dig in the fall and store prac- 
tically all their lily bulbs for spring planting. One grower in this 
country, operating on a peat soil, finds it advisable to follow this 
practice with the Regal lily. 
SOIL 
The Regal lily succeeds under a very wide range of soil conditions. 
On Puget Sound at Bellingham, Wash., it grows well on both 
