24 BULLETIN %2, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
LAYERING. 
Old stems which have blossomed may be layered in moist sand or 
simply laid on the surface of the ground in a moist atmosphere. 
When this is done bulblets form readily along the lower part of the 
stem. 
BULB DIVISION. 
A natural propagation takes place in the Easter lily, as in nearly all 
other lilies, by the division of the bulb into two or more after it 
reaches maturity. After such a division it is necessary to plant the 
units out one year to round up, or they can be forced as double- 
nosed bulbs. 
BEST METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 
The most useful methods of propagating the Easter lily are by seed 
and bulblet formation, the latter being the most common and in 
middle latitudes the most practicable for the production of dormant 
bulbs. 
At present it seems advisable for growers intending to produce dor- 
mant bulbs for sale to start their propagation from seed, because of 
the freedom from disease and the greater vigor and general cleanli- 
ness of such stocks when compared with abused imported bulbs. 
CONTROLLING BULBLET FORMATION. 
A very large measure of control can be exercised by the grower 
over the amount of propagation. If the stocks are set shallow there 
will be less propagation by far than if the planting be deeper. In 
heavy. poorly aerated soils, however, there is a limit to the efficacy 
of deep planting. as the formation of bulblets is mostly confined to 
the upper 3 or 4 inches of soil. This fact is well brought out in figure 
12, in which the bulblet formation will be seen to take place in the 
well-aerated soil near the surface of the ground. 
It is also feasible to increase the propagation by the addition of 
more mulch or by banking up around the plants with earth. 
SOIL FOR EASTER LILIES. 
The Bureau of Plant Industry is not in a position to discuss the 
subject of soil for Easter lilies very exhaustively, for the reason that 
its stocks up to this time have been grown on only one type of soil. 
It can be said with confidence, however, that a clay loam is well 
adapted to the plants. 
The soil on which these stocks of Easter lilies have been 
crown is basically a heavy, lean, bakey clay. This has been 
ameliorated with some sand. liberal dressings of rough manure, and 
cover crops. The response to this treatment has been all that 
