year when the sermon on the Mount was delivered.” The white lily and the chalcedonian are, however, 
both Levantine plants; and many other lilies are natives of, and so abundant in, the East, that a Persian 
province was called Susiana, and its chief city Sushan, from these beautiful flowers growing there naturally 
in excess. Hence, although the Amaryllis can by no means be excluded, the other Liliacese should be 
included likewise. 
For the following extract we are indebted to that delightful work the “Flora Domestica.” 
Although we usually associate the idea of extreme whiteness with the lily, so that it is common to ex- 
press a pure white by comparison with this flower, as with snow, and as white as a lily is an old and common 
proverb, yet lilies are of almost every variety of colour; perhaps there is no other flower that varies so 
much in this respect. 
“The Common White Lily,” says Mr. Martyn, “has been cultivated in England time immemorial.” 
The stem is usually about three feet high. The flowers are brilliantly white, and glossy on the inside. It 
is from the East; and in Japan the blossom is said to be nearly a span in length. This Lily flowers in 
June and July. The roots, which are mucilaginous, are sometimes boiled in milk and water, and employed 
in emollient poultices ; but they have not much reputation. An oil for the same purpose was also prepared 
by infusing the roots in olive oil. 
There are several varieties of the White Lily : as, that with the flowers striped or blotched with purple ; 
that with the leaves striped or edged with yellow; one with double, and one with pendulous flowers. The 
double flowers are less fragrant than the single ; and the common kind is generally held in higher estimation 
than any of the others. 
This Lily may easily be increased by offsets, which the bulbs furnish in great plenty. They should be 
taken off every second year. The best time to remove it is about the end of August, soon after the stalks 
decay. It will thrive in almost any soil or situation, is very hardy, and not liable to injury by frost. Few 
plants are more easily increased or preserved than the Lily, so remarkable for the beauty and fragrance of its 
flowers. 
The bulbs, when removed, may be treated as other bulbs; but the sooner these are re-planted the 
better, as they do not keep so well out of the ground as many others. 
This Lily is considered as an emblem of purity and elegance ; and 
“ The lady lily, looking gently down,” 
is scarcely less a favourite with the poets than the rose itself. 
Ben Jonson to express the extreme loveliness of a beautiful woman, asks — 
“ Have you seen but a bright lily grow 
Before rude hands have touched it ?” 
“ The lily, of all Children of the spring 
The palest — fairest too where fair ones are.” 
Barry Cornwall’s Flood of Thessaly. 
1 Thus passeth yere by yere, and day by day, 
Till it felle ones in a morwe of May, 
That Emelie, that fayrer was to seene 
Than is the lilie upon his stalke greene, 
And fresher than the May with floures newe, 
For with the rose color strof hire hewe ; 
(I n’ ot which was the finer of them two) 
Er it was day, as she wjs wont to do, 
She was arisen and all redy dight ; 
For May will have no slogardie a-night. 
Chaucer. 
“ In virgin beauty blows 
The tender lily languishingly sweet.” 
Hevinlie lyllyis with lokkerand toppis quhyte, 
Opynnit and schew thare istis redemyte.” 
Armstrong. 
“ Queen of the field, in milk-white mantle drest, 
The lovely lily waved her curling crest.” 
Gawin Douglas. 
Modernized by Fawkes. 
In the Language of Flowers the White Lily says. Purity and Modesty. 
