74 
The Fragrant August Lily. 
By Bertha Berbert-Hammond. 
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily 
To throw a perfume on the violet 
***** 
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. 
— Shakespeare. 
In a secluded nook in my perennial 
garden, near some lacy ferns, shaded 
by tall Tiger Lilies, stands a massive 
clump of Lilies that bears during Au- 
gust a profusion of fragrant, white 
funnel shaped flowers. As this species 
invariably comes into bloom dur- 
ing the month of August, it is quite 
widely known as “ The August Lily.” 
Because its separate white flowers 
which mature one at a time, last but a 
day it is sometimes called “ The White 
Day Lily,” but as the flowers of this 
variety really open toward night and 
wither by day, that name is not a very 
appropriate one. As its leaves re- 
semble somewhat those of the plantain 
(though much larger and decidedly 
more beautiful and heart-shaped than 
the latter) it is frequently known as 
‘‘The Plantain Lily.” It has even been 
referred to as “The Porch Lily,” for 
the reason that it is a prime favorite 
for planting near a porch where its 
beauty and fragrance can be readily 
enjoyed during the humid evenings 
usual to August when it is especially 
delightful to have 
“ The air all perfumed 
With sweets from its zephyr-swung censer ; 
And a harmony subtle and sweet. 
As the chiming of far away vespers.’’ 
— Alice R. Carson. 
The plant is catalogued by the 
lengthy and somewhat impressive 
name of Funkia sub-cordaia grandiflora 
alba, and a more desirable and satis- 
factory plant than this variety of 
Funkia it would be difficult to find. It 
is perfectly hardy, is exceedingly orna- 
mental, has a long season of fragant 
bloom, entirely free of pests and is 
simple to cultivate. 
A well established clump of August 
Lilies will send up numerous flower 
stalks, each crowned by a cluster of 
six to eight snow-white buds, one or 
two of which open late in the afternoon, 
emitting a delicate odor that is most 
refreshing at the end of a sultry Au- 
gust day. These flowers remain open 
during the night and in the sheen of 
moonlight the chaste, white blossoms 
gleam and glisten like chiseled marble 
or as Dorr says : 
“ The stately Lilies stand 
Fair in the silvery light. 
Like saintly vestals, pale in prayer.” 
With the return of the sun, the opened 
Lilies wilt, but, though the individual 
flowers fade so soon, there are usually 
so many clusters of buds, that open in 
succession that the season of bloom of 
a clump, often extends well into Sep- 
tember. Even when not in bloom, 
this plant which grows from one foot 
to one and one-half feet in height with 
its many handsome, deeply veined 
leaves borne on long stems, adorns the 
garden. 
The August Lily delights in deep, 
moist, well-drained, enriched, sandy 
soil. It prefers partial shade, where it 
Ofye Slower (Brower 
is shielded from the hot glare of the 
noon-day sun. If given merely slight 
protection, it will do well on the north 
side of the house where few other 
plants will thrive. Unless the dense 
clumps that soon form, are occasion- 
ally reset there is danger of the crowns 
and roots becoming exposed and in- 
jured by heavy frosts. Dividing and 
transplanting can be successfully done 
early in the autumn after the plants 
have ceased to bloom. The new plants 
should be set quite deeply with three 
or four inches of soil covering and pro- 
tecting the crowns. The plants will 
soon “stool out” and produce sturdy 
clumps that in turn will bear clusters 
of flowers of such delicate beauty, ex- 
quisite fragrance and subtle charm 
that they appeal most irresistibly to 
those of aesthetic taste for 
“ The Lily with its golden tongue 
Speaks of a life forever fair. 
Of sweeter harmonies unsung.” 
—Parker. 
American Gladiolus Society. 
The premium list of the tenth annual 
exhibition of the American Gladiolus 
Society which is to be held in the Ar- 
cadia Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan, 
August 19th, 20th and 21st, 1919, will 
be mailed to the members promptly, 
and probably will be in your hands be- 
fore this appears. Members not hav- 
ing received a copy should notify the 
Secretary. Any others interested may 
have copies upon application. 
Entries should be made as far in 
advance as possible so that the Secre- 
tary may have the entry cards pre- 
pared in advance of the show. Any 
changes in the entries, either additions 
to or omissions from the list already 
filed, should be made in writing and 
handed to the secretary at the exhibi- 
tion hall. 
The annual meeting for the election 
of officers and the transaction of busi- 
ness will be held at 10 A. M., August 
20th, at the Arcadia Auditorium. As 
it may be necessary to change the hour 
of meeting on account of the sessions of 
the Society of American Florists, mem- 
bers and others should consult the 
secretary after their arrival in Detroit. 
Notice of changes as to the place and 
hour of the meeting will be announced 
as far in advance as possible. 
A. C. Beal, Sec’y. 
Additions and corrections to premium 
offers as published in the March and 
May issues of The Flower Grower : 
SCHEDULE OF PRIZES. 
OPEN TO ALL. 
H. E. Meader, Dover, N. H. 
No. 14— Best 3 spikes Lilywhite. First prize, 20 
bulbs of that variety ; second prize, 12 bulbs ; third 
prize, 6 bulbs. 
B. Hammond Tracy, Wenham, Mass. 
No. 18— Best vase 25 spikes Primulinus Hybrids. 
First prize, $6; second prize, $4. 
I. S. Hendrickson— Emma E. Patterson. 
No. 26— Center piece not more than 18 spikes grown 
and arranged by the exhibitor (any foliage may be 
used). First prize $10 ; second prize $5. 
Emma E. Patterson, Burlington, Wis. 
No. 27— Best Gladiolus spike raised from a cormel- 
First prize $3 : second prize $2. 
August, 1919 
A. H. Austin Co., Wayland, Ohio. 
No. 28— For the best display of the Austin origina- 
tions. First prize. Silver Medal ; second prize. 
Bronze Medal ; third prize, stock of the Austin origi- 
nations to the amount of $3 ; fourth prize, stock of 
the Austin originations to the amount of $2. 
The Flower Grower, Calcium, N.Y. 
No. 29 -To every exhibitor in the Open Class, not 
already a subscriber to The Flower Grower, one 
year’s subscription. 
A. E. Kunderd, Goshen, Ind. 
No. 30.— First prize. Gold Medal ; second prize, ; -. 
Silver Medal ; third prize, Bronze Medal. Largest 
and finest collection of Kunderd varieties. Quality of 
bloom to determine award in case of collections of 
about the same size. 
Offers in each of the following classes bulbs to the 
value of the prizes set forth for each class : 
1st 2nd 
No. 31— $5 $3— Best 6 spikes Purple Glory. 
No. 32— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Myrtle. 
No. 33- 5 3— Best 6 spikes Mrs. F. Pendleton. 
No. 34— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Summer Beauty. 
No. 35 — 5 3 — Best 6 spikes Mary Pickford. 
No. 36— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Pride of Lancaster. 
No. 37— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Orange Glory. 
No. 38— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Arizona Rose. 
No. 39— 5 3— Best 6 spikes Sweet Orra. 
No. 40— 5 3 — Best 6 spikes Butterfly. 
Non-Commercial Growers. 
A. E. Kunderd, Goshen, Ind. 
Offers in each of the following classes bulbs to value i 
of the prizes set forth for each class : 
1st 2nd 
No. 97— $3 $2— Best 3 spikes Myrtle. 
No. 98— 3 2 — Best 3 spikes Purple Glory 
No. 99— 3 2 — Best 3 spikes Mrs. F. Pendleton. 
No. 100 — 3 2 — Best 3 spikes Alice Tiplady. 
No. 101— 3 2— Best 3 spikes Lilywhite. 
No. 102 — 3 2 — Best 3 spikes Kunderd 's Glory. 
No. 103 — 3 2— Best 3 spikes Pride of Goshen 
No. 104 — 3 2— Best 3 spikes Mrs. A. E. Kunderd. f 
No. 105 — 3 2 — Best 3 spikes Rose Glory. 
No. 106 — 3 2— Best 3 spikes Youell's Favorite. 
No. 107— First prize. Gold Medal ; second prize, I 
Silver Medal; third prize. Bronze Medal. Largest t 
and finest collection of Kunderd varieties. Quality ) 
of bloom to determine award in case of collections of J 
about the same size. 
Gladiolus — Blue Iris. 
[ Subject of illustration on front cover page. ] 
This Gladiolus is entirely in a class of 
its own. It is of medium size with 
eight to ten beautiful Iris blue blos- 
soms open at one time. Entire flower 
is veined darker blue giving it an at- 
tractive appearance. Plant is of good 
height and bulblet production is also 
good. 
Blue Iris was originated by A. E. 
Kunderd, Goshen, Ind., and was first 
introduced by him in 1916. 
Hollyhocks. 
No hardy garden is complete without 
Hollyhocks and they are the most stately 
and impressive plants we have at this season, 
not excepting the Delphiniums. Sow the 
seeds now and you will have strong plants 
for flowering next summer. Too often 
growers put off sowing them until Pansies 
and Forget-Me-Nots are started. That is 
too late a date to secure vigorous plants. 
While usually treated as biennials, clumps of 
Hollyhocks will persist for several years and, 
as they seed freely, little plants will be found 
springing up in all directions. Some grow- 
ers prefer doubles, others singles. The lat- 
ter are to me far the more beautiful. The 
Allegheny strain is good, while Chater’s 
doubles are hard to beat. For the rust on 
Hollyhocks, spraying with Bordeaux mixture 
should be started as soon as frost has left 
the ground and continued until the flower 
spikes are well advanced. In some seasons 
this disease will not show again, while in 
others it may be quite prevalent. Climatic 
conditions have much to do with its spread, 
although seed saved from affected plants 
will probably perpetuate it. — Florists’ Review. 
