106 
House 6“ Carder. 
Lilinni Willmottae is a native of China, intro¬ 
duced by Wilson of the Arnold Arboretum. It 
is hardy and the colors are vaguely orange 
THE VIRTUES OF THE LILY 
(Continued from page 80) 
in a moist, cool and shaded condition. 
The soil preference of lilies is a distinct 
one, but they can cope reasonably well 
with ordinary garden soil if proper drain¬ 
age, moisture, and coolness are supplied 
them during their growing period. How¬ 
ever, if it is possible to supply some 
semblance of their preferred habitat one 
is assured of success. As a family they 
prefer a light sandy loam with a certain 
quantity of peat or leaf mold worked into 
it. The soil should always be light and 
porous and never fertilized with manure, 
unless it is thoroughly rotted. Manure 
may be used, however, at various times 
during the summer as a top dressing, for 
it not only serves as an added food supply, 
but also as a mulching. 
The Japanese, who have such success 
with raising lilies, probably due to a 
thorough knowledgeof their requirements, 
and attention to them, usually plant a 
bulb on its side, for this protects it from 
damage due to water settling into the 
center of the bulb and rot ensuing. The 
depth to which a bulb should be planted 
varies according to whether it produces 
one or two sets of roots. Some are base 
rooting, having only one set, that which 
develops at the bottom of the bulb. These 
do not recjuire deep planting, usualIj' 
about twice the diameter of the bulb; 
whereas some, such as the Madonna Lily, 
are quite happy if they only have a 
shallow covering of soil. There are other 
lilies which are stem rooting as well as 
base rooting. These send out a mass of 
fibrous roots at the base of the stem so 
it is necessary to plant them very deep in 
order that the roots will not dry out or 
be disturbed by cultivation. Three or 
four times the diameter of the bulb is 
usually sufficient. Lack of these pre¬ 
cautions may" be the cause for much of the 
hard luck attending bulb raising. 
The best time for planting is in the late 
fall, October or early November, in order 
that a sufficient root growth may be 
made before cold weather and so enable 
the plant to start early in the spring, but 
late enough to prevent much top growth. 
It is practical to plant most bulbs in the 
very early^ spring, but such planting does 
not alway’s prove as successful as fall 
plantings. The first season for almost 
every lily is the poorest. It is necessary 
for them to become established before 
blooming at their best, and for this reason 
they should rarely be disturbed. 
The cultural details are simple. Ade¬ 
quate care in planting is the main thing, 
and after that treat as y^ou would the 
rest of your choice perennials. They 
(Continued on page 108) 
Sargent’s lily, L. Sargeniiae, is a white floivcr with chocolate shad¬ 
ing and prefers a well-drained soil. It is a native of Thibet. 
Courte.'!}' of F. II. Horsford 
