November is, 1880 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 453 
18th 
th 
Shrewsbury and Kingston Chrysanthemum Shows. 
19th 
F 
Croydon and Maidstone Shows. 
20th 
S 
Hull Cattle Show. 
21st 
SUN 
26TU SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 
22nd 
M 
23rd 
Tu 
Northampton and Liverpool Chrysanthemum Shows. 
24th 
W 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Show. 
LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
t is questionable if any other flower is so gene¬ 
rally popular as the Lily of the Valley. No other 
possesses such delicate charms, none is more 
useful, and none so much sought after by all 
s classes, the Rose excepted. The flowers are 
doubly welcome when they are produced months 
before their ordinary time, which can be accom¬ 
plished with ease and certainty if a proper system of 
cultivation is followed, and these notes are intended to 
show that a succession of Lilies of the Valley can be 
maintained for seven or eight months. The length of time the 
outside supply lasts depends upon the situation the plants 
occupy, and upon the season. To maintain a supply from the 
commencement of the new year is by no means difficult, as 
imported single crowns and clumps from the Continent can be 
had in flower in abundance during January, and by hard 
forcing flowers may be obtained by Christmas. On more than 
one occasion newly imported plants have been introduced into 
strong heat here as soon as they arrived, but they did not 
start for months afterwards, and some of the plants produced 
their flowers the following July and August outside. This is 
sufficient proof that the Lily of the Valley cannot be forced 
until it has received a thorough rest. How can these imported 
plants be expected to bear flowers nearly as soon as they 
arrive ? They are taken up as soon as they show signs of rest, 
and many of the leaves are upon the plants when they arrive 
prematurely ripened by the journey. It is unreasonable to 
suppose that plants receiving scarcely any rest will start satis¬ 
factorily and produce good flowers by subjecting them to the 
strong heat of forcing houses. 
For some years past I have carefully read the various gar¬ 
dening periodicals, and I do not remember seeing any state¬ 
ment of these flowers being produced at the beginning of 
November until I recorded the fact in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture in 1878. They can even be produced by the last week 
in October if an effort is made to have them thus early without 
adopting extreme measures in forcing. Imported roots will 
not produce flowers during November, and to accomplish this 
plants must be grown in pots and assisted aftei; flowering to 
make an early growth so as to receive an early rest. If a 
number of imported clumps or strong home-grown plants from 
the border are potted in good loam, a seventh of manure and 
sand, and forced after the new year, the foliage can be had 
with the flowers, which is essential to the plants if they are to 
produce their flowers again in early autumn. Some little care 
must be taken that these plants are not seriously checked while 
flowering, nor must they be placed outside or in cold frames 
and neglected after flowering, which is frequently the case. 
A vinery or warm Peach house is suitable, and a light position 
should be afforded the plants until growth is completed and 
matured. They can then be placed outside in a sunny 
position to thoroughly ripen their crowns, which must not, 
however, be done by withholding water to induce premature 
rest. Liberal feeding should be resorted to while the plants 
are growing and until the growth is completed, the crowns 
plump, and the foliage becoming yellow. They should not 
suffer through insufficient supplies of water during any stage, 
and after the foliage has fallen the plants can remain outside 
resting until they are required for forcing ; but they must not 
be allowed to become dust dry at any time. 
After the plants have had a good rest forcing can be con¬ 
ducted without trouble. This season plants so treated were 
plunged into tan, the crowns being placed about 2 inches 
below the surface, and the bottom heat ranged at about 85°, 
scarcely ever varying, and the flower sprays quickly appeared 
and were gathered here on the 3rd of the present month. As 
soon as the flowers appear through the tan it is removed from 
around the crowns and inverted flower pots are placed over 
them, stopping-up the hole in the pot for a few days. This 
assists in drawing the flowers well up, which should afterwards 
be gradually exposed to the light, and they will increase in 
size, substance, and fragrance. 
This system of early forcing will year by year spoil some of 
the plants, so that an annual preparation of a number is 
needed. When the flowers come first the foliage afterwards 
is naturally weak. These early-forced plants must be care¬ 
fully hardened, and when frost is past plant them outside 
where they can remain for two years to thoroughly recover 
their strength, and a number of plants forced after the new 
year should again be grown on for the following autumn. 
Plants from the outside when well established can be lifted, 
and either placed in pots forced upon beds of leaves or laid 
upon vinery borders, and a little soil scattered amongst them 
until their flowers are produced. It is a good plan to place 
the roots in shallow boxes in vineries afterwards ; they are 
much more readily removed to harden off again before plant¬ 
ing out. By introducing them in boxes for cutting, potting- 
up a quantity in pots and introducing them in batches, it is 
easy to maintain a succession Until flowers can be had outside. 
Lily of the Valley will succeed in pots for a number of years 
providing the drainage is kept good, the plants not subjected 
to too early forcing, and being well supplied with liquid 
manure while growing, so as to produce stout foliage, which is 
the precursor of bold crowns. 
To have a good supply of these flowers outside as long as 
possible, it is necessary to plant in different aspects, some in a 
sunny position, others again to succeed them, and for the last 
supply plant in a northern aspect. The ground should be libe¬ 
rally manured, and in autumn after the foliage has faded some 
short decayed manure may be thinly spread amongst the plants 
with much benefit to them the following season. During dry 
weather a good soaking of water may be given, and occasional 
supplies of liquid manure. The outdoor treatment is very 
simple, and it is easy to prepare a few plants annually in 
Peach houses or vineries to supply early flowers through 
No. 21.— Yon. I., Third Series. 
No. 1677.— You. LX1Y.J Old Series. 
