October 7, lb93. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
85 
BERMUDA EASTER 
LILIES. 
There have appeared from time to time in our 
{Florists' Exchange) columns communications in re¬ 
gard to the shipping of Lily flowers from Bermuda at 
Easter by the growers of bulbs there, which action 
was characterised as being detrimental to the sale of 
home products, and various stringent measures have 
been suggested as remedial agencies. 
We were favoured last week with a call from 
Mr. E. Worrall, Outerbridge, whose firm, the 
Sunnylands Nursery Co., situated at Sunnylands, is 
one of the largest engaged in growing Lilium Harrisii 
in the island of Bermuda, and asked his opinion on 
the subject. 
cases and are therefore very inferior to hothouse- 
grown flowers when received.” 
“ Does the cutting of the buds injure the bulbs in 
any way, either in size or productiveness? ” 
“ No, it does not; we have tested that for our¬ 
selves by cutting the blooms from a number of 
plants ; we found that the size of the bulbs was 
not lessened nor their quality in any way impaired ; 
in fact, some growers think the practice does the 
bulbs good.” 
“ It has been reported that Harrisii and Longi- 
florum have been seen growing mixed in some of the 
Bermuda Lily fields. Is that correct ? ’ 
" There may be a stray Longiflorum seen in a field 
of Harrisii, but that can hardly be avoided. Every¬ 
thing possible is done to prevent mixing, but a few 
in July. We plant in beds 4 ft. wide, in rows about 
6 in. apart, setting the bulbs about 3 in. deep in the 
soil, and leaving a space of 12 in. between the beds. 
Cultivation is all done by hand. After the bulbs 
are dug up the stock and saleable goods are separated 
in the fields. The task can be better imagined than 
told, and the utmost care is exercised so that none 
of the scales or shells get removed. We consider 
from the ist to the 15th of July the best time 
to harvest our bulbs; they are then better cured,” 
” Complaints were very frequent last year of the 
tips of the leaves of Harrisii plants withering, Wtiat 
caused it, do you think ? ” 
"The constitution of the bulbs may have had 
something to do with it; but I think it was due 
more to the plants having received a chill, or to in- 
Carnation, Pride of Great Britain. 
” Do you consider it right for the bulb growers in 
Bermuda to send Lily flowers over here in competi¬ 
tion with the products of American florists who have 
purchased their bulbs from firms in Bermuda, or 
through their agents in this country ? 
” I am of opinion that it is an injustice to Ameri¬ 
can growers, and our firm does not indulge in the 
practice. We sell a few buds to tourists in Bermuda, 
but do not send any to the New York or other 
markets. We would be willing even to stop catering 
to the tourist trade should other firms in the islands 
fall in with us; but as it at present stands every¬ 
body exports more or less blooms.” 
“There is one thing, however, I wish to make 
clear, a Lily flower in Bermuda at Christmas is a 
curio; so our competition at that time is not to be 
feared; and again I do not consider that the buds 
sent over at Easter can in any way compete with 
those forced in America. The Bermuda blooms 
have to be cut eleven days in order to reach New 
York in time for Easter; they are boxed in air-tight 
of the bulblets of one variety may happen to go un¬ 
observed when the crop is being gathered or a scale 
may fall off when the bulbs are being stored. Our 
people who sort out the bulbs for market can detect 
a Longiflorum bulb at a glance, both by its shape and 
appearance. The latter is flatter and lighter coloured 
than that of Harrisii. Still, in growing Harrisii in 
quantity, I do not see that it would hurt any to mix 
a Longiflorum or two with them ; the difference in the 
flower being so slight.” 
“ Some of our growers contend that your soil is 
becoming exhausted.” 
“By our new method of cultivation, which has 
been developed at considerable trouble and expense, 
we can successfully plant our Lilies in the same 
fields year after year. We also rest our ground in 
which w8 grow Lily bulbs when it requires a change, 
by planting Onions and other vegetables, Narcissus or 
Hyacinths. 
“ Our bulbs are kept nine months in the ground. 
We plant in September and they are dug up early 
sufficient drainage being given in the pots. Proper 
drainage is one of the essentials in successfully 
growing Harrisii. Our soil in Bermuda is of a very 
sandy nature, and is self-draining ; the dry condition 
of the soil can best be described by likening its 
action when absorbing water to that of a thirsty 
man who gulps the water down with a glucking 
sound. 
“ It also occurs to me that our soil is charged 
with considerable saline matter, on account of the 
proximity of all the cultivated ground in the 
Bermudas to the ocean. I cannot say that it has 
any good effectthe plants; but I know it does 
them no harm, as the salt water and spray from the 
ocean have gone all over some of our Harrisii plants 
and have left no after bad effects.” 
“ Can you suggest anything to the growers here, 
in order to obtain better results from the bulbs 
planted ? ” 
“ I cannot advise them on the greenhouse culture 
of Harrisii, as we raise no flowers under glass. I 
