THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
293 
LeicJitlini was figured in the Floral World for March, 18G9. 
It is a neat-growing plant, well adapted for the open border, but 
scarcely showy enough for pot culture. 
Longiflorum is a lovely species of dwarf growth, the flowers large 
for the plant, elegant funnel shaped, and of the purest white within 
and without. Having invariably succeeded with this species when 
growing it in pots, and invariably failed when it has been planted 
out, I am bound to recommend pot culture. In the autumn of 
1869 I planted out a large stock of Longiflorum iu beds of peat, and 
left them undisturbed until the autumn of 1873, when they had 
dwindled away to about a fifth of their original number. When 
these remaining few were taken up and potted, they were found to 
be in a thoroughly thriving state, with abundance of roots and a 
perfect nest of bulbs, proving that the peat soil suited them. As 
they never flowered, and became fewer every year, I conclude that 
the climate is at fault, especially as this lily grows early, and is 
usually killed back by spring frosts. 
Speciosum or Lancifolium is one of the most beautiful, and one of 
the easiest to manage. It is remarkably hardy, and will thrive in 
peat or loam, and may be grown in beds or pots without any diffi- 
culty. I have had a considerable number of the best varieties of 
Speciosum planted out in beds of peat since the autumn of 1869, 
and they are now flowering finely, and iu the fullest possible vigour. 
Yet they occupy the very beds which were water-logged last winter, 
and in which auratums, longiflorums, testaceums, and chalcidoni- 
cums perished. This showy and accommodating species is badly 
treated by market growers, who purchase imported bulbs, and pot 
them in small pots and help them with liquid manure. They send 
them to market looking glorious, but the bulbs are well nigh 
ruined. An amateur who should happen to buy market plants 
would do well to plant them out four inches deep, and f'^rget them. 
After a year or two they would recover, and again flower in the 
superb style by which this species is characterized. The best 
varieties are rubrum, album, and 'punctatmi. S. H. 
THE WINTER DECORATION OF FLOWER-BEDS. 
ITH the aid of the cheap, neat-growing evergreen shrubs, 
the flower-garden may be made to present such a beau- 
tiful appearance throughout the winter, that we are 
bound to express our surprise that more attention is not 
paid to the decoration of the flower-garden during the 
dead season. Yet, throughout the winter months, all the compart- 
ments that have been occupied with flowers during the summer, and 
especially those so situated as to be within view from the windows 
of the dwelling-house, might be richly furnished at a very trifling 
expense. In our remarks on the “ Plunging System,” which have 
October. 
