THE MADONNA LILY. 13 
of barely moist sphagnum, extending only to their former ground 
level. When all have been arranged this ribbon, with oiled paper 
under it extending far enough to envelop the tops, is rolled tightly, 
tied, and packed several in a box. Im such a pack seedlings will go 
across the country by mail without suffering if care is taken to 
see that the tops are kept dry and the roots barely moist. 
TRANSPLANTING EASY 
In spite of the emphasis placed on keeping the bulbs out of the 
ground as short a time as possible and the necessity for early plant- 
ing, the Madonna lily is very easily handled. It can be moved at 
almost any time of the year if ordinary care is observed and will 
still grow and flower as though nothing had happened to it. In- 
stances are known where all the bulbs of a considerable planting 
were heaved out of the ground on the Whatcom silt loams of the 
Bellingham Bay region during the winter. These bulbs were shoved 
back into the ground in the spring. They were injured, of course, 
but they all flowered. These lies may often be transplanted while 
in bud, seemingly without injury to their flowering quality. 
In ornamental plantings it is sometimes necessary to move the 
plants after top growth starts in the fall. This can be done with 
very little injury by taking about the same care as would be neces- 
sary in moving ordinary shrubby perennials. But one can not, with- 
out serious loss, dry off the plants or otherwise abuse them by keep- 
ing them out of the ground a long time. When moved in vegetative 
condition they should be reset immediately, as should be done with 
any shrub. 
METHODS OF CULTURE APPLICABLE TO THE NANKEEN LILY 
The methods outlined here are applicable in the propagation and 
handling of a number of other lilies. The garden hybrid, Lilium 
excelsum (L. testaceum, L. isabellinum), commonly referred to as 
the Nankeen lily (PI. II, fig. 2), can be handled in all respects like 
the Madonna lily, and it does as well, too, on Puget Sound. There 
is reason for believing this to be a cross between the Madonna lily 
and L. chalcedonicum. It is very easily propagated in exactly the 
same way as the common Madonna lily. There are but few records 
of the Nankeen lily having produced seed, but the indications are 
that in this respect also it simulates the Madonna very closely. 
ADVANTAGES OF HOME PRODUCTION 
Attention has been called to the necessity for the early handling 
of the Madonna lily. It should be in the hands of the consumer 
early and should be potted up or planted out in early August. This 
is manifestly impossible when the bulbs commonly do not reach this 
country until September. It is evident that with home production 
the bulbs can be put on the market earlier and be out of the ground 
a shorter time than when they have to be shipped from abroad. 
ENEMIES 
The Madonna lily has one enemy which at times is said to cause 
serious losses, but in the investigations of the Department of Agri- 
