THE EASTER LILY IN NORTHERN CLIMATES. 29 
Another aspect of the subject is the desirability of producing uni- 
formity in seedlings, a much more difficult matter than to produce it 
in the vegetatively propagated progenies selected from these seed- 
lings. This also is being attempted. 
THE EASTER LILY IN BEDS AND BORDERS. 
No lily is more satisfactory for beds and borders than the Easter 
lily. It 1s also well adapted in our middle latitudes for permanent 
plantings. In spite of what has been said in previous pages about 
the necessity of making plantings so late that no top growth will 
take place, in a permanent planting there is a wonderful adaptation, 
Fic. 14.—A selected lot of 110 stem bulblets forced in order to determine their flower- 
ing qualities. The smallest are in the foreground. Three did not flower. The 
average for the entire lot was 23 flowers per plant, one producing six flowers. 
and under ordinary conditions there is no more danger from forced 
early growth than with many other herbaceous perennials. 
In permanent plantings the stems should be allowed to function 
until quite late in the autumn. If they do not die down naturally 
they can be allowed to grow until killed by frost. It is seldom cold 
enough for this, though, in the climate of Washington, D. C., before 
the regular time of planting, about November 1. 
In permanent plantings it is advisable to allow the plants to set 
seed. Observations seem to show that the stem functions longer in 
autumn when a crop of seed is being produced than when the pods 
have been removed. The late functioning of the old stem retards 
activity in the next season’s growth until the ground becomes too 
cold for top growth to take place, 
