THE EASTER LILY IN NORTHERN CLIMATES. Pup | 
formation of new roots, which appear in early September, has been 
the guide, and digging has been done when this occurs. This 1s 
probably to be looked upon as a reaction to more favorable temper- 
atures for growth rather than an indication of maturity, but, never- 
theless, stocks dug in early September, as the summer tempera- 
tures abate, have behaved perfectly under forcing and field condi- 
tions the next season. When dug at this season though, the bulbs 
must be looked upon as not fully mature and as comparable to much 
of the imported stock from Japan, which also is dug while in full 
vegetative vigor. 
Digging has been done from September 10 to October 30. The 
performance of the bulbs dug during this period is about the same, 
so far as has been observed, but no careful comparative tests have 
been made. 
When the bulbs are dug late there is commonly a small per- 
centage of the stocks in which growth has started from the next 
season’s crown. This growth is more likely to take place in the 
propagation than in the old bulbs. There is little doubt that there is 
in this characteristic a basis for selection, to which attention is now 
being given. 
To sum up this matter, it can be said that the bulbs can be dug 
from September 10 to October 15 or 20 and that the late digging 
probably gives the best-matured bulbs, although those dug earlier 
apparently develop satisfactorily. 
METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 
Any plant to become widely useful must be able to make rapid in- 
crease. Lilies in general have been considered the aristocrats of the 
flower kingdom because of their beauty and the difficulties in pro- 
ducing them, but the Easter lily can be grown from seed so as to 
blossom in less than a year and can be produced vegetatively in one 
season. There are many methods of increasing the stock. 
SEED. 
Propagation by seed has been discussed in previous pages, and the 
method of handling has been fully described. Seed propagation 
gives clean stock and is a quick way of getting blossoming plants. It 
is also exceedingly desirable for various other reasons. It furnishes 
a quick and easy way to build up stocks from a few plants. It en- 
ables the small grower or the florist to produce his own forcing stocks 
and to get blossoms continuously from seven months after planting 
the seed up to and including the second Easter following the seeding. 
The method of propagation by seed is also very economic! of time 
and effort, since the stocks may be carried out of doors for s!x months 
on a space practically equal to the size of the greenhouse required to 
