2 ‘BULLETIN 1331, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
In spite of the length of time the species has been known and 
the wealth of information about it, it is found that failure rather 
than success rules in attempts to propagate it, though the species 
is one of the easiest to handle of the entire genus Lilium. As in 
very many other cases relating to bulbous stocks, the data. avail- 
able refer to garden and greenhouse use. There has been very 
little discussion of the preparation and perfection of stccks for 
these purposes. In other words, the available information is useful 
to the grower of the plants rather than the producer of the bulbs. 
VARIETIES 
At one time a number of more or less well marked varieties of 
Lilium candidum were offered for sale, but so far as our present 
purposes are concerned they need not be considered in detail. At- 
tention need be given here to one only, the robust, healthy, thick 
and leathery petaled variety which is about the only one seen to-day. 
It is well to know, however, that there is a thin narrow-petaled 
weaker variety which should be avoided. Besides this, there is 
a double variety, and doubling may occur occasionally in the good 
commercial form. This feature is interesting but scarcely worth 
growing for decorative purposes. There is also a form with yel- 
Jowish margins on the leaves, some with red, purplish, or black 
stems and some with even the blossoms streaked on the ribs with 
a blush of purple. None of these are attractive enough, strong 
enough, or appealing enough to persist and come into favor like 
the thick wide-petaled common commercial variety. 
SOURCES OF PLANTING STOCKS 
Material for propagation is to be had to-day mainly from im- 
ported stocks, for although the Madonna lily is commonly grown 
commercial quantities of bulbs are not yet available. The impor- 
tations come chiefly from the north of France, which is the principal 
source of supply for the world as well as the source of the best 
stocks that are commercially grown at present. 
Aside from this imported material there is a limited quantity 
of stock in this country. Some of this is excellent, especially when 
it has been left undisturbed for years. Old clumps commonly con- 
tain many small bulbs and a few large ones, from which commer- 
cial stocks can be worked up rather rapidly. 
PROPAGATION 
To be widely and extensively used a lily plant must be capable 
of being rapidly multiplied. Few lilies excel the Madonna in this 
respect, for it may be increased satisfactorily by several distinct 
methods, 
PROPAGATION BY BULBS 
The Madonna lily increases naturally by a division of its bulbs, 
and always associated with this natural division of the old bulb 
is another propagation from the old loosened and injured outer 
scales which break off in handling. These scales give rise natu- 
