6 
J. WILKINSON ELLIOTT, PITTSBURG. PA. 
Fall Planting of LILIES 
Tho great cause of failure and disappointment in planting Lilies is that they are kept out of the ground too long. The Auratum, 
K 11 brum and Album, the most effective and desirable <*f all r^ilie.s, are imported from Japan in the fall, and usually do not arrive in 
this country until December, and, of course, cannot be planted outdoors until the following spring. This long exposure greatly weakens 
the bulbs, and the flowers are not satisfactory. Never buy Lilies that are offered 
for sale in seed or floral stores; they are so weakened by exposure that they are 
worthless. This fall I am importing an enormous quantity of Julies from Japan, 
and instead of having them come by the slow, but inexpensive, all-water route, 
they are shipped by fast steamer to Canada, and from thence by special tea train, 
which enables me to have the bulbs in Pittsburg in October. Immediately upon 
their arrival they will be delivered to my customers, in ample time for planting 
this fall. 
Formerly I guaranteed October delivery of Japanese Lilies, and until the fall 
of 1889 always succeeded in delivering them in October, sometimes by the 10th of 
that month, but that fall I received no Lilies from Japan until the middle of No¬ 
vember, and some did not come until December. Last fall I again received Lilies 
early in October, and all orders were filled in time for fall planting. This year 1 
have made contracts requiring October delivery, with penalties for failure ; but 
while I fully expect to deliver all Japanese Lilies in ample time for fall planting, 
I will not guarantee it. In the event of bulbs not arriving in time for fall planting, 
1 will have them repacked in sand and stored in a cold cellar until spring, and 
deliver them as soon as the weather will permit. Lilies handled in this way will 
give just as good results as if planted in the fall. 
Whenever delivered, I guarantee Lily Bulbs to be sound, in first-class con¬ 
dition, true to name and strictly first-class in every respect. 
I have gone to considerable trouble to give my customers the opportunity of 
planting Japanese Lilies under the most favorable conditions, for I know of no 
flowers that are more strikingly beautiful and effective, or that will give more 
pleasure and satisfaction to the planter. I am not only supplying bulbs of very 
superior quality, but I am also selling them for one-half regular retail prices, 
which you can confirm by referring to any seedsman’s or plantsman’s catalogue 
you may have at hand. 
Julies like a light, rich, well-drained, but moist soil, and a partially shaded 
location. Jf planted in full exposure to the sun, the bed should be carefully 
mulched with two or three inches of rotted manure, leaves, sphagnum or moss. 
They thrive and are very effective when planted thickly among Rhododendrons, or 
Azaleas, and may be used to advantage in any open spaces that may be in the 
shrubbery. Bulbs should be planted six inches deep and care taken that no 
manure comes in direct contact with them. Planted in quantity, they may be had 
in bloom from June until frost, and bloom freely the first season after planting. 
Rubrum, Melpomene, Album, and many other Lilies will thrive and increase in 
Bloom oi Lilium auratum almost any soil, but unless the conditions are very favorable, Auratum Lilies de¬ 
teriorate and a percentage will be lost every year ;* but they are so truly splendid, 
and are so inexpensive at the low price at which 1 offer them, that they will be found to be the best garden investment that can be made. 
Try these Lilies, and send your order at once, so that they can be sent to you immediately upon their arrival from Japan. Longifiorum Lilies 
are similar in appearance to the Bermuda Easter lAlies, but are much more satisfactory for outdoor planting, as they are perfectly hardy. 
PRICES OF LILIES 
These prices include all charges except freight or express charges from Pitts¬ 
burg. The measurements given refer to circumference of bulbs, but the 
Japanese evidently use an elastic tape, as the bulbs never quite come up to the 
measurements given. I give these sizes as they are generally used by the trade. 
Per doz. 
Auratum. / to 9 inches.$0 85 
9 to 11 inches. 1 50 
11 to 13 inches . 2 50 
11 to 13 inches, selected bulbs. 3 00 
13 to 15 inches, monster bulbs. Very scarce. This size does 
not arrive until November... 3 75 
Longifiorum. The Longifiorum has large, pure white, trumpet¬ 
shaped flowers like the Bermuda Easter Lily, but is per¬ 
fectly hardy. 5 to 7 inches... 00 
7 to 9 inches. 1 00 
9 to 10 inches. 1 75 
Speciosum album. 7 to 9 inches. 1 25 
9 to 11 inches. 1 50 
11 to 13 inches. 2 50 
** Melpomene. Similar to Rubrum, but more brilliant 
in color. 7 to 9 inches. 1 25 
9 to 10 inches. 1 GO 
u rubrum, or roseum. Pink. 7 to 9 inches. 85 
9 to 12 inches. 1 35 
Monster bulbs. 2 00 
100 
$6 
00 
10 
00 
18 
00 
21 
00 
26 
00 
0 
00 
o 
50 
11 
00 
8 
50 
10 
00 
13 
00 
7 
50 
10 
Ml) 
6 
50 
9 
50 
13 
00 
RARE VARIETIES OF AURATUM LILIES 
Each Per doz. 
Auratum vittatum rubrum. Magnificent flowers ; 10 to 12 inches 
across ; clear, waxy white, with broad crimson stripe through the 
center of each petal .. .$0 75 $7 GO 
Auratum pictum. A very choice variety ; pure white, with red 
and yellow band through each petal . 35 3 50 
Auratum Wittel. A magnificent Lily ; immense flowers of the 
purest white, with a wide yellow stripe through the center of 
each petal; very tall growing and free-blooming . 75 7 50 
Lilium speciosum album 
