316 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
as containing ‘all the Lilies of Japan,’forms represented 
bearing a very strong resemblance to Excelsum. It is 
true that amongst these Lilies there are some most 
wonderful forms and gorgeous pieces of coloring, such 
as would lead many to disbelieve in the veracity of the 
artist, but, on the other hand, we can point to other Lily 
forms which we know well, depicted therein with 
fair accuracy, while the birds and insects portrayed 
in some numbers, we Tecognize to have been truth¬ 
fully delineated. Our own conclusion is, hat as 
yet, we have scarcely touched the rich treasure of 
wonderful Lilies which Japan will one day send 
to us.” 
Whatever may have been the origin of this Lily, 
where, or how it was born makes but little difference, 
and does not alter the fact, that in grace, form, color 
and fragrance it has but few equals, and no superiors in 
this noble family of plants. It is moreover of easy cul¬ 
ture, succeeding best in a loamy soil, and in a partially 
shaded situation. 
L. Longiflorum is one of the most beautiful and valu¬ 
able Lilies for the open border, as well as the one mostly 
employed for forcing. The typical form grows from one 
to two feet high, the stems being terminated with from 
one to four long, tubular, waxy-white flowers, sweetly 
scented and produced in early summer. There are sev¬ 
eral varieties o: this Lily, the best being Eximium, 
which besides flowering a fortnight earlier than the 
type, bears larger and more numerous flowers, and is in 
every way superior to the ordinary longiflorum-, Sake- 
sima differs but little from the type, it is distinguished 
by a purplish tint on the exterior of the blossoms, and 
on the stem. One of the grandest of this species is 
Wilsoni, which grows much taller than any of the 
others; under glass the stem reach nearly four feet. It 
blooms profusely, and the flowers are fully nine inches 
in length, and very broad. This, we believe to be the 
variety known as The Bermuda Lily. L. Longiflorum 
folia variegata is a dwarf-growing variety, with leaves 
plainly striped with white; in a mass it would be useful 
as a variegated-leaf plant. Its flowers are shorter, but 
more open than those of the type. 
L. Martagon is a well known Lily, but one rarely met; 
the type is a species we could do very well without, but 
some of the varieties are very fine, especially Dalmati- 
cum, which has flowers larger than the type and of a 
shining blackish-purple. In contrast with this is M. 
Album, a variety with pure white flowers. All the 
varieties do well when once established. 
L. Monadelphum is truly a magnificent Lily, and one 
that requires to be well established in order to show 
what it really is. In the open border it grows from two 
to three feet high with a terminal cluster of from six to 
twenty turban-shaped flowers, ranging in color from a 
rich canary-yellow to a pale lemon-yellow. This Lily 
presents a variety of forms, although all are of the same 
general character. The greatest difference being, that 
some are spotted and some are larger than the type. 
The varieties are known under the names of L. Szovit- 
zianum, Colchicum and Loddigesianum. All these 
varieties are of Asiatic origin. In any ordinary collec¬ 
tion any one of the varieties will satisfactorily repre¬ 
sent the species. 
L. parryi is a very beautiful Californian species, of 
slender growth. It bears graceful trumpet-shaped flow¬ 
ers of a rich yellow color, thickly spotted with choco¬ 
late-red, and delicately perfumed. The flowers are 
borne horizontally, and it is thus rendered very distinct. 
This is a shy grower, and does not appear to thrive in an 
adopted home. L. Pardelinum is another Californian 
species; in habit and flower it closely resembles L. Su¬ 
perbum. This succeeds as well here as any of our na¬ 
tive sorts, and, as it comes into flower very early, is a 
desirable sort. 
L. Lancifolium (Speciosum ).—Of this species we 
should not consider our collection complete unless we 
had four varieties, viz.: Prcecox, a strong grower, pro¬ 
ducing, when well established, twelve to fifteen very 
large, pure white flowers on a single stem, the petals 
are regular and much reflexed, often clasping the stem; 
in the centre of the flower the petals are studded with 
delicate little projections, like crystal points. This 
variety differs materially from the well known Specio¬ 
sum Album; its flowers are larger, more symmetrical, 
more freely produced, while the habit of the plant is 
superior in every respect. Var. Purpuratum has the 
same general habit, with very dark rose-crimson flow¬ 
ers ; the petals are seemingly rugged with rubies an I 
garnets, and bordered with white. Var. Punctatum: 
this is a rare variety, differing from the others only by 
the delicate rose colored spots on their pure white 
petals. Var. Roseum or Rubrum: this is the most com¬ 
mon and best-known variety. Much confusion exists 
in regard to its variety name. Some dealers call it Ro. 
seum, others Rubrum; many send it out under both 
names, the result of which is, if you buy one you have 
both, and if you buy both you have but one, which one 
it matters but little; as the color is intermediate be¬ 
tween punctatum and purpuratum, it is an important 
variety. These four varieties fairly represent the 
species, and for a general display no more are re¬ 
quired, and for a good collection neither could well be 
omitted. 
L. Tenuifolium is the earliest of all Lilies to flower in 
the garden, and one of the most remarkable, because of 
its brilliant scarlet flowers, borne in terminal clusters on 
very slender stems which are beautifully clothed with 
grass-like foliage. 
L. Tigrinum. —Notwithstanding this is one of the 
much-despised Tiger-Lilies, it is, when well grown, one 
of the most noble and beautiful specimens in the gar¬ 
den. We have had single plants of the double-flowered 
variety grow more than five feet high, with a dia¬ 
meter of two and a half feet, bearing in a single 
season more than sixty flowers, continuing in bloom 
more than six weeks. The single flowers are equally 
beautiful, but the plants do not continue so long in 
bloom. 
In conclusion let us say, that in making a selection > 
you cannot easily go wrong, for there is not a species or 
variety that is not worthy of a place in the garden. If 
you are successful in their cultivation, as you will be if 
you deserve to be, you will be sure to increase the num¬ 
ber of varieties annually, until you have either filled 
your grounds, or have secured a complete collection. 
You will also have observed that your investment, 
heavy as it may have seemed at the start, has relatively 
been small, as plants that are steadily and rapidly in¬ 
creasing in number, though they may cost one dollar 
each when you commence, are in the end much cheaper 
than those that require to be renewed annually, like all 
of the popular bedding plants. 
