348 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 30, 1885. 
losses, in a considerable collection of imported auratums, are 
not numerous. 
Might it not be, however, that the failures of Lilium auratum, 
to which “ Scientia ” alludes, result in reality from the view on 
which he bases his treatment of the stem-roots, being a mis¬ 
conception ? The great thing in the successful cultivation of a 
plant is to realise the exact conditions under which it grows in 
its native habitat, and for auy structural peculiarity that a plant 
may have the local reason should be sought, in order that full 
advantage may be taken of it. In the hill country in Japan 
where Lilium auratum is chiefly found growing in the porous 
fertile soil characteristic of a volcanic region, I believe that 
during the month of May, when the Lily stems are in most 
active growth, it rains every day. Thus it will be seen that 
these Lilies are accustomed to abundance of water during the 
early stages of growth, although not growing in wet places, the 
porous soil ensuring perfect drainage. If, therefore, they are 
exposed to drought, such as is so commonly prevalent in our 
climate during the spring, the stem-roots do not get properly 
developed, and there follows an abnormal drain upon the 
resources of the bulb, which soon collapses. From this point of 
view, at least, there is nothing “ unnatural ” about stem-roots, 
and that evil should result from their ill-treatment seems at any 
rate more probable than the quaint notion of a plant being 
“ sun-struck,” especially when we consider that the summer in 
Japan is hotter than in England. Doubtless plants that were 
lacking moisture and subsisting on their bulbs would shrivel in 
sudden hot sunshine, but it is not therefore necessary to attribute 
their death to the sun, which only renders it obviously apparent, 
for, as “ Scientia ” says, “ when once affected they never recover,” 
they being by that time already dead. In fact the last paragraph 
of the letter is all good advice in view of the usefulness of stem- 
roots, since if it be advantageous to keep the plants well watered 
in the growing season, a mulch or undergrowth (as of Rhodo¬ 
dendrons) is of great value in keeping the ground moist. 
Another thing that seems to support the view of the stem- 
roots saving the bulbs, is that when people complain of L. 
auratum being useless after having been once flowered in pots, 
we frequently find that the bulbs have been grown like Hyacinths, 
quite on the top of the soil, so that no use could be made of stem- 
roots, and the bulbs have been completely exhausted. I have 
heard (though I never tried the experiment) that if a flower stem 
of Lilium auratum be separated from the bulb, cutting it off 
below the stem-roots, and planted independently with due care, 
to avoid injury to the stem-roots, the plant will continue to grow 
and flower with but little apparent check. If this be the case, to 
neglect such an obvious source of power to the flower-stem 
cannot but be regarded as wasteful in the extreme, especially 
when it is remembered that next year’s bulb depends ou the 
vigour of stem, the leaves of which are the means of storing it 
with its required constituents. 
There is such an obvious hiatus in the argument when 
“Scientia” states his belief that without stem-roots hundreds 
of L auratum would not bloom, and then proceeds to counsel 
their rigorous suppression, that 1 am half inclined to suspect 
that his object is to draw correspondence on the engrossing 
topic of Lilium auratum, and I therefore venture to recapitulate 
the conditions under which it is grown successfully here without 
troubling anyone to remove its “unnatural ” (or “unscientific ”) 
stem-roots. Good sound bulbs (not flabby, and with scales loosely 
flapping against one another) are planted 6 inches deep, that the 
stem-roots may be well undei’ground among Rhododendrons in 
light porous peaty soil on banks and slopes, where, though they 
are abundantly watered during May and June, they are never in 
stagnant moisture even during winter. This treatment results in 
numerous and fine flower stems, of which one last year bore 
sixty-five blooms, and several others over twenty.— Theta. 
TURNIP-ROOTED CELERY. 
Where much Celery is required for stewing this variety should he 
grown, as it produces fine large globe-shaped roots, which are extremely 
hardy and well flavoured. They may be grown to come into use in 
November, and the same batch will supply roots until this time. 
In a garden not far from here we saw a fine quantity of it last autumn. 
Since then it has been used from time to lime, and the roots left are 
still sound and good. This long season of usefulness ought to be a good 
recommendation for it, and its very simple culture also commends it. 
If a pinch of seed is sown on any rich fine surface in the open about this 
time the plants will appear in a fortnight or so, and by the middle or 
end of June they will be ready for planting in their permanent quarters. 
The soil for their reception at this time should be heavily manured and 
deeply dug. No trenches or anything of this kind are needed, but the 
plants should be dibbled into the surface of the ground in rows 18 inches 
or so apart, and 12 inches or 15 inches from plant to plant. The Dutch 
hoe must be run amongst them to keep the weeds down, but no other 
attention is required, as they will bulb freely in the autumn, and be found 
a very excellent addition to choice vegetables.—J. Muik, Mar gam. 
AMONGST THE ORCHIDS. 
An orchidist can spend a very pleasant day in the neighbourhood 
of Leatherhead and Dorking, for he can conveniently visit two of the 
most celebrated collections of Orchids in the kingdom, besides enjoy¬ 
ing the natural beauties and refreshing air of a charming district. A 
day so occupied will yield many agreeable memories ; and whether the 
visitor's object is pleasure or business, or a combination of both, the re¬ 
sult will be equally satisfactory. The two establishments so particu¬ 
larly worthy of a visit are Downside and Burford Lodge, the names 
of which, together with those of their respective proprietors, W. Lee, 
Esq., and Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., are identified with Orchids 
throughout Great Britain. Both can be readily seen in one day, and 
the best mode of doing so if travelling from London is to alight at 
Fig. 62.—Dandrobium nobile nobilius. 
Leatherhead station, from which Downside is reached in about a 
quarter of an hour, and to proceed thence to Burford Lodge, returning 
from Box Hill station to London. If the weather be fine, and the 
visitor a pedestrian, he will enjoy a walk along the high road between 
Leatherhead and Boxhill, for the scenery is of the true Surrey 
character, varied and beautiful, though without any strongly marked 
features until Box Hill is reached. At both establishments much of 
interest will be found, but each possesses its special features, which 
will be pointed out in the following notes. 
DOWNSIDE. 
Many of the leading collections of Orchids are very differently 
situated, and when this is duly considered it becomes the more remark¬ 
able that such general success should be obtained under such different 
circumstances. Orchids may be seen growing within the smoke 
radius of large cities with scarcely less luxuriance than they do in the 
pure atmosphere of the open country, or, as Mr. Percival has them 
at Southport, fully exposed to the sea breeze. As to elevation, 
there is also much difference, and a good example of this is afforded 
by Downside and Burford Lodge ; while the former enjoys a con¬ 
siderable elevated site upon the slope of a hill, the latter has a most 
sheltered position immediately at the foot of Box Hill, yet in both 
cases the plants are all that could be desired. There is, however, 
no doubt that the chief point is to have a situation for Orchid houses, 
at least for those devoted to tropical species, fully exposed to the sun, 
as auy necessary shade can be always provided, and the maturing 
effects of the sun is soon manifest in stout hardy growths and highly 
coloured substantial flowers. This advantage is enjoyed to the fullest 
extent at Downside, for the hill upon which the houses stand slopes to 
