ISOLIRION GROUP OF LILIES 
33 
THE LILIUM. 
tfigr Our group of cut Lilies , exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society's Flower Show, was awarded 
the Banksian Silver Medal. 
Amongst hardy plants, the Lily is matchless in beauty, in variety of colour, and in chasteness of form. Its 
blooming period commences ere the spring flowers have shed their last blossom, and a continuous unbroken 
succession of these magnificent flowers is maintained till the autumnal frosts destroy the last flower buds of 
Speciosum and Auratum. In these respects the Lily is unequalled for successional display. 
The yellow and red Turk's Cap rolled-up flowers of Pyrenaicum come first ; with these are associated the 
elegant Pomponium, the graceful Tenuifolium, the soft scarlet flowers of Carniolicum, the sweet-scented Albanum, 
and the noble flowers of Monadelphum Szovitzianum ; add to these in the succession the richly coloured flowers 
of Bulbiferum and Davuricum, which in June unfold their fine umbels of erect bell-shaped blossoms, and the 
dwarf forms — Thunbergianum ( clegans ), with flowers of the softest apricot to the richest crimson, accompanied 
by the miniature forms of Concolor, bringing up the succession to Tuly. Then come the bright yellow, beauti- 
fully spotted blossoms of Croceum, softened by the snow-white flowers of Candidum, the apricot blossoms 
of Testaceum, and the beautiful characteristic flowers of Pliiladelphicum. The family now becomes ennobled by 
the magnificent Giganteum. The Martagon, with its elegant Turk's Cap blossoms, and Canadcnse, with its 
drooping bell-shaped flowers, associated with the grand Californian Lilies, and the pure white trumpet flowers 
of Longiflorum, the matchless blossoms of Japonicum, and the refined flowers of Krameri, bring us to August. 
The brilliant coloured Chalcedonicum, the beautiful Washingtonianum, the magnificent Ilumboldti, and Neil- 
gherrense (the Prince of Indian Lilies) become then conspicuous ; and the early flowering gorgeous gold-banded 
Auratums have been filling the atmosphere with their perfume since July, and surpassing in majesty, beauty, 
and variety the stateliest and most effective plants of the flower garden. Superbum, the Martagon ImperiaJe of 
Parkinson, with its beautifully leopard-spotted flowers, is associated with the old favourite Tigrinum sinense, 
with its large spikes of rich scarlet blossoms. These are followed by Tigrinum Fortunei and its double form, 
which is again closely followed up by Tigrinum splendens and Jucundum. These again are followed by the late 
flowering Auratums, which continue the succession to the end of the season accompanied by Speciosum, with its 
flowers ranging from the purest white to the darkest crimson. Of Speciosum, erroneously though more com- 
monly called Lancifolium, the introducer enthusiastically described the flowers as “all rugged with rubies and 
garnets, and sparkling with crystal points.” 
Culture out of doors. — The Lily in its native habitat, is found growing amongst brushwood, long grass, on 
the margins of plantations, or in ravines, &c., and always where there is more or less shade, and in soil which is 
sweet and well drained ; so that in choosing a situation for planting these, partial shade and perfect drainage 
should be attended to. The borders of Rhododendron and Azalea beds are found admirably suited for lily 
culture ; they also do well amongst dwarf shrubs, or intermingled with herbaceous plants, and in the proximity 
of trees. We have seen Lilium auratum alternated with Roses, in the borders of Rhododendron beds, the stems 
of the lilies in some cases measuring 3 to 4 inches in circumference, and attaining a height of n feet, sur- 
mounted with large heads of flowers, with from 50 to upwards of 100 blossoms. As we write this, we have 
Auratums blooming magnificently under the shade of, and in proximity to, an old mulberry and a walnut- 
tree. In preparing ground for Lilies, loosen the soil to a depth of several "feet to secure the requisite drainage, 
intermixing fresh loam, peat, and coarse sand, or leaf soil instead of peat. Care should be taken that the soil is as 
free as possible from insect life, and the compost should be of such a character as not to cling to the bulb. Plant 
the bulbs at a depth of 6 inches, and if all things are equal they need not be disturbed for years. The bog or 
swamp-loving Lilies, Superbum, Canadense, and the varieties of Pardalinum do best in a moist peaty soil. 
Culture In-doors. — The Lily succeeds best in a compost of fibry loam and peat, with plenty of sand, or leaf soil 
and loam with sand ; the top of the bulb should be covered at least one to two inches, and the pots plunged in 
ashes in a cold frame ; or the pots may be placed out of doors, and covered with ashes, as recommended in the 
culture of the Hyacinth, and there allowed to remain till the plants have speared through, or better still, let them 
remain till the flower buds are formed, then remove to the conservatory, corridor, or sitting-room . While the 
Lily is growing, a situation should be selected, or measures taken to prevent the sun's rays falling upon the 
surface soil. A vinery, or the north side of a hedge or wall, are suitable places. Lilies grown in pots , should 
have liquid manure twice a week , and the drainage must be perfect and the soil kept sweet. Superbum, Canadense, 
and varieties of Pardalinum, succeed best in sandy peat. 
The Lily is a matchless plant for indoor decoration. All the varieties do well under glass. The magnificent 
Neilgherrense, so admirably figured in the coloured plate of The Gardeners * Chronicle, and Wallichianum are 
purely greenhouse plants. 
We have arranged the Lilies in accordance with Mr. Baker’s classification, which is a natural grouping based 
on the shape of the flower ; these groupings with a few exceptions, represent also the order of flowering. 
If purchasers will therefore select from each group, they will secure both diversity of form and succession of bloom. 
OUR OWN SELECTIONS OF LILIES FROM THE FOLLOWING FOUR GROUPS. 
1709 
1710 
1711 
1712 
1713 
1714 
1715 
1716 
For conservatory decoratiori, 50 in 50 beautiful varieties 43 
„ 11 25 in 25 „ £1 
,, ,, 12 in 12 ,, 
For Flower border decoration 50 in 50 beautiful varieties 43 
„ 1. 25 in 25 „ £ 1 
,, ,, 12 in 12 ,, 
For Rhododendron beds 25 in 25 tall growing beautiful varieties 
1 s, 
12 s. 
3 s - 
k f: 
IS. 
4 4 s 
10 s 
Ids 
•/ £4 4 s 
•/ 4 1 IOJ 
7-f. 6 d., 10 s 
; £5 5 s * 1 £7 7 s - 
; £2 23.; 43 3 s. 
; £1 5 s. ; £2 23. 
: 45 5*/ £7 7 s - 
; £2 2S. ; £3 3 s - 
6 d., 15J., 21 s. to 42 s. 
OO f. . 42 S. tO 62 s. 
ISOLIRION GROUP. 
The Lilies belonging to this group have the flowers erect, bell-shaped. They are forms of the typical 
Bulbiferum, the Red Lily of Europe, America, and Japan. Bulbiferum proper, and its sub-species, Croceum 
and Davuricum, also Buschianum and PulchelJum, are European. Catesbaei and Pliiladelphicum are American. 
Concolor and Thunbergianum are Japanese. They are perfectly hardy, and do well in any ordinary garden soil 
of a loamy character, except Catesbaei, which requires a light dry warm soil. The erroneous specific names, Atro- 
sanguineum and Umbellatum we have omitted. Atrosanguineum is a variety of Thunbergianum, and Umbel- 
latum is the name of a variety of Bulbiferum. The varieties in this group flower out of doors from the latter end 
of May to well nigh the end ol July. If grown indoors they will flower earlier. each—#, d. 
1717 Bulbiferum, crimson shading to orange, and spotted, bulblets in the leaf-axils, 2 ft per doz., 5/6 o 6 
1718 M umbellatum, crimson-scarlet, shading to yellow, freely spotted, 2 \ ft „ 7 I 6 o 9 
1719 „ nanum Louis Phillipe, rich crimson, shading to orange , mottled blood crimson, very 
distinct and beautiful, 1 ft 3 ° 
1720 CatOBbael, orange-red, purple spotted, 1 ft 3 ® 
1721 Concolor, scarlet, slightly spotted black, 1 ft 3 © 
12, King Street, Covent Garden, 1878.] 
