20 
Fred’k H. Horsford, Charlotte, Vermont 
Lilium auratum. (See page 21.) 
LILIES 
It would be hard to select a more important group among all the cultivated bulbs than that of the Lily. 
Ihe majority of species are hardy in well-cultivated garden soil, yet by experience we find that a little 
covering to exclude light and sudden changes is very beneficial. There are kinds which seem to do even 
with shallow planting and little or no covering for winter, and I have seen bulbs of some of the varieties of 
Elegans lie on the top of the bed fully exposed all winter and apparently all right in spring; but Auratuins. 
bpeciosums, and in fact all, with the exception of the tiger, Elegans, Davuricum and Croceum, do better for 
covering. Our Meadow Lily, growing as it does usually, has a covering of grass or leaves or brush over 
the bulb, which keeps out light and sudden changes in winter. The Auratums and Speciosums when not 
covered may not be killed, but it they freeze too hard the outer scales will decay and the plant be much 
weakened, loo low a degree of temperature will, I believe, kill anv Lily, no matter whether under ground 
or packed in boxes. In December, 1902, I lost a large lot of Lilies, during transit from New York! The 
very cold wave froze them solid in the cases and not one bnlb survived. 
In protecting Lilies and other bulbs which are not perfectly hardy, I have found 3 inches of straw 
manure over the beds very good. Another method I have adopted for the more tender kinds is 3 inches of 
hWn iff T S iv, ’ • th | n 2 mCheS ° f the straw marmre over the leaves, which prevents the leaves being 
blown on by the winds. & 
iiini^,m° St Tr POrtant ltem the Stowing of all Lilies is the combination of good drainage with plenty of 
see US tn m ‘Tr® 'n UC1 m0lsture during the blooming season; still, a soil not well drained seldom 
^•oo l for tbeYi v h ^ Iuch ftood can be done in the adding of sand, leaf-mold or turf loam (which is always 
good for the Lily), but if good drainage is not given many species will not thrive 
fres) imv, 0 i?ii” Ve 1 mUCl1 better second year after planting, for the reason that, if they are not taken 
become Trivelefi Tn’■ T °A the root ? U - Ve been ,ost or dried > and their scales, also, may have 
celCnnr ii silf ' l f f’- ^ CaSe V th , imported or store bulbs if the storing has not been in a 
and no deniited' n f t w T ln tU , eir natl “' a ! s 1 ° l1 - or 5,1 d;im P sphagnum, not allowed to become dry, 
and not cleprived of their roots, are much more likely to bloom the first year. In purchasing: Lilies it is 
well to insist upon having only firm and solid bulbs. If they have been wintered in a cellar it should l ave 
i^tLTwlTare'ofTens «°rf’ S ° f hat tbe huibs could not have shrunken or dried. Bulbs wintered 
mis way aie often about as solid as when wintered in the ground. They may be better than if set in the 
ground in autumn and exposed to the rains, which often injure late-planted bulbs 
