40 
BARR’S GENERAL BULB CATALOGUE, Autumn, 1916. 
LILIES— CULTURAL NOTES — continued. 
In preparing the ground for Lilies loosen the soil to a depth of 2 feet or more, and add or fill in the 
necessary compost [see notes below). Plant the bulbs with their tops 2 to 3 inches below the surface, 
surrounding and covering with sand, and then top-dress with a compost of light soil and well-decayed 
manure, working in pieces of burnt or charred wood. As growth advances a mulching of light rich soil 
Should be occasionally given, and during the growing period the plants should be freely watered. In late 
autumn cut down the old flower-stems and give a light covering of leaves or peat-fibre. 
Lilies in Pots.— Anyone with an unheated green- 
house can easily have a very beautiful show of Lilies in 
pots during the summer months. The varieties specially 
recommended for this culture are Auratum, Speciosum , 
Tigrinunt, Chalcedoniatm , Umbellatum, E/egans , Testa- 
ccum , Hansoni, Henryi , Giganteum, Brownii, Longi- 
ftorurn, Krameri , and Rubellum. 
In potting use a compost of fibrous loam and sweet 
decomposed leaf soil, with plenty of coarse sand or a 
mixture of good peat, loam, and sand, adding to the 
compost a few pieces of charcoal. See that the drainage 
is perfect. The pots should be carefully washed and 
allowed to dry before using ; new pots should be well 
soaked ; never use wet or dirty pots. In order to destroy 
all injurious insect life it is a good plan to sterilise the 
soil to be used for potting ; we recommend for this 
purpose the Kondine Soil Steriliser, price 45.0 (full 
particulars on application), or small quantities of soil can 
be sterilised in a sack, pouring over it a large kettle of 
boiling water, and then spreading out the soil to dry. 
This will prevent a great deal of after trouble from worms 
or insects attacking the bulb roots, l’ot firmly, barely 
covering the top of the bulb, and leaving room to add 
more soil when the surface roots appear. Select a situa- 
tion out of doors, protected from the afternoon sun, and 
stand the pots on a bed of ashes raised above the general 
level to avoid stagnant moisture, and make firm to pre- 
vent the entrance of worms ; then cover with 6 inches of 
peat-fibre or old leaf soil to keep off excessive rains. When top growth begins to show above the 
covering, remove the pots to a cold frame, pit, or greenhouse, and start giving water sparingly ; a little 
clear weak liquid manure given twice a week when the flower-buds are well advanced will greatly assist in 
the development of fine biooms. A north wall or hedge is a suitable situation for starting the bulbs. If 
very early flowers are required the plants may be transferred from the cold frame into a gentle heat, but 
must be kept as near the glass as possible to prevent their getting drawn. Shade should be given to the 
lower portion of the stems to induce free stem-roots, and these should be top dressed as they appear. Give 
air freely, and fumigate if required. When coming into bloom a little weak manure-water will be of great 
assistance to the plants. 
To those desiring further information regarding Lilies, we commend the following books : Miss 
Jekyll’s “ Lilies for English Gardens," 8/n post free-, “The Book of the Lily ” (by William Gold- 
ring), 2/10 post free-, “Lilies” (by A. Grove), 1/10 post free. 
w The majority of Lilies are not ready for dispatch before the beginning of November ; a few 
sorts, however, are ready earlier, such as Candidum, Croceum, longiflorum, etc., while some of the 
lapanese imported varieties do not arrive until December. Orders for Lilies will therefore be executed, 
if necessary, in two or more parts. 
Soils and Situations Recommended for Different Lilies. 
|| Indicates those Lilies of easiest culture, being strong free growers thriving in most soils. Where 
soil is very dry and poor, add loam and peat, or leaf soil ; where heavy and damp, add sand and leaf soil 
All require good drainage and plenty of moisture while in growth. 
Q Indicates those Lilies requiring a good friable soil, not too dry, and the addition of a little peat is 
advisable. The lower part of the stems should be kept in shade. 
Indicates those Lilies delighting in shady and moist situations, sheltered from strong winds. A well- 
drained peat soil, where there is bottom moisture for the bulbs to root into, is recommended. Where a brook, 
stream, or pond is available, they may be planted at the margins, where the bulbs can remain moderately damp, 
and the roots find all the moisture they require below. In planting cover and surround bulbs with sand. 
£ Indicates the chief stem-rooting Lilies. (See Cultural Notes.) 
L ILIUM AURATUM. 
