February 8, 1883.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
107 
8th 
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Roval Society at 4.30 P.M. 
9th 
F 
Quekett Club at 8 P.M. 
10th 
S 
11th 
Sun 
1st Sunday in Lent. 
12 th 
M 
[11 A M. Annual General Meeting at 3 P.M. 
13 th 
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Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees at 
14th 
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Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
stiff 
that 
most 
CULTURE OF LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
r^^Ti^ILIES of the Valley are esteemed every¬ 
where, hut unfortunately they do not 
succeed equally well in all gardens. In 
some cases the plants do not flower 
well, and in others without any care the 
flowers are produced in great abundance. 
The diversity of result may arise from a 
variation of soil and situation, hut except 
in some very peculiar instances I have never 
failed to grow these plants satisfactorily in any 
soil that has been properly prepared. In a 
soil, which though retentive of moisture, and on 
account likely to suit them, they have given the 
trouble, as although the plants grew freely and 
increased fast, few flowering crowns in proportion to 
those that gave no flowers were produced. This was 
attributed to the plants being too thick on the ground 
—the plantation too old. A fresh plantation gave no 
better results, and others in shaded and open situations 
were equally unsatisfactory. In the same kind of soil, 
however, plants on a south border flowered freely, which 
was unquestionably due to the ripening of the growth. 
In a shaded wood plants growing in light sandy soil, 
the roots and crowns all in the 3 or 4 inches depth of 
surface soil composed of decayed vegetable matter, 
were all that could be desired. In light and loose soil 
plants grew well but flowered very poorly, so much so 
that it w r as deemed inadvisable to devote so much space 
to them ; but when the ground was made firm by 
treading it, the growth the following season was much 
more sturdy, the plant had stouter foliage, and the 
flowers were abundant. In the loose soil the plants 
grew well, in the firm soil they flowered well. 
The Lily of the Valley is a moisture-loving plant, 
but it does not grow naturally where there is water 
lodging in the soil. Shade, however essential it may 
he to the plants in a wild state, is not needed in culti¬ 
vation ; in fact north borders and shady positions have 
only the supposed advantage of lessening the necessity 
for watering, but the small number of flowers compared 
to those grown in an open situation is a direct less. 
Choose, therefore, an open sunny situation, and if the 
site be not well drained naturally it must be made so 
by taking out the soil a foot deep and putting G inches 
depth of drainage—any brickbats, stones, or rubble 
will be available, placing the roughest at the bottom 
and the smallest at the top, and in addition to this 
there must be tile drainage to carry off the super¬ 
fluous water. Where the subsoil is of a dry 7 sandy 
or gravelly character the drainage may be dispensed 
with. 
Light sandy soil is the most suitable enriched with 
at least a third of leaf soil or well-reduced manure. 
Thoroughly mix these together when rather dry, so as 
to admit of the compost being trodden down firmly. 
Six inches is a suitable depth of soil, and in this the 
plants should be placed out 2 inches asunder in rows 
4 inches apart, the base of the crowns being slightly 
beneath the surface. A bed 4 feet wide will hold twelve 
rows, the outside rows 2 inches from the sides of the 
alleys, which need only be 12 inches wide. Water if 
necessary with a rose watering pot, and cover the whole 
bed with 2 inches thickness of sandy soil and well- 
decayed manure in equal proportions and thoroughly 
mixed. Planting may be done in February or March. 
The after course of treatment is to water once a week 
when rain does not fall to the extent of half an inch, 
giving a thorough soaking, employing liquid manure 
after May through the summer up to the beginning of 
September. Weeds must be removed as they appear, 
and in autumn after the tops have died give a top¬ 
dressing of well-decayed manure an inch thick. In the 
third season, or after two seasons' 1 growth, they will be 
in perfection, and will continue for a number of years 
to flower abundantly; but after six or seven years 
they become so crowded, and consequently weakened 
that they need renewal. 
When the object is to raise crowns for lifting to be 
forced there is no difference as regards the preparation 
of the soil; but the plants may be inserted in rows 
3 inches apart and 1J inch asunder, and after two 
seasons’ growth they will have formed cowns of flower¬ 
ing size. The whole of the plants should then, or not 
later than the third season, be lifted, selecting the 
flowering crowns, which are more plump and round 
than the others. The latter will be good for planting 
in fresh beds. By making beds every year a regular 
succession of crowns can be obtained equal to those 
imported. 
Where clumps are required to be lifted for forcing it 
will be found much better to plant twelve to eighteen 
crowns in a circle not exceeding 5 inches in diameter, 
distributing them evenly and working some soil amongst 
them, keeping all the crowns on one level, and dis¬ 
posing the clumps 9 inches apart in rows 15 inches 
asunder, than to rely on cutting out clumps from old 
beds in which there is certain to be a number of non¬ 
flowering crowns. The others, if well attended to with 
water or liquid manure through the summer in dry 
weather, will in two or three seasons be very strong 
and in fine condition for forcing, the clumps being cut 
out with a long-bladed knife just clear of the crowns, 
The whole may then be lifted, the beds renovated with 
fresh compost, and the crowns that have been formed 
outside the clumps replanted. 
Forcing. —If it is desired to have flowers of Lily of 
the Valley in early winter, plants that have perfected 
their growth early are unquestionably the best for this 
purpose. If the demand be great roots can be pl-nted 
out in heated pits, allowing a distance of a foot from 
the glass to the soil. The first season the growth 
should be allowed to be made naturally, the lights being 
withdrawn in mild weather when the outside tempera¬ 
ture is 50°, air being admitted freely on other occasions, 
so as to prevent the temperature exceeding 50° to 55°. 
Water must be liberally supplied, also liquid manure, 
during the season of growth. After the middle of June 
the lights may be removed altogether. In the follow- 
NC, 1793.—VOL. LXTX,. OLD SERIES. 
No. 137.— Vol. VI., Third series. 
