Hardy Perennials 
21 
LILIES, continued 
The best time to set Lilies is in autumn, it is generally believed, but I have had quite as good success 
with spring setting. It' they are taken fresh from the nursery before they have advanced too far in growth, 
they do nicely. The reason why so many believe that Lilies should be set out only in autumn is because the 
main supply has been from store bulbs. Few dealers keep their stocks in the ground, and when stocks are 
not kept in beds or in the ground, unless stored in damp soil in tight boxes, by spring the bulbs become 
so dried and shrunken that a season is required for them to regain their normal strength. Two or three 
exceptions, perhaps, should be made for spring setting. The Candidums, as a rule, do better set not later 
than September 15, and even August 15 is better. Longillorum and its varieties, also, when set in spring 
must be planted very early. Imported or ” store ” bulbs, which usually have no roots, should be set in early 
autumn for the best results the following season, Always bear in mind when setting Lilies that they not 
only send out roots to a good depth below the bulbs, but in most species from where the stem joins the 
bulb to very near the surface of the bed roots will form, and these need feeding as much as those at the 
bottom. Do not let the bulbs come in contact with this enriched soil. Place a third of an inch or more of 
clear sand or light loam under or next to the bulb, and cover with the same before the enriched soil is 
drawn over them. The enriched soil often rots the bulbs when allowed to come in contact with them. Do 
not plant too deep or too shallow. If the bulbs could be set 4 inches deep at first, and then, after they are 
up say G inches high, a covering of 2 inches of good, fine leaf-mold could be placed over them as a mulch, 
they would be treated as I like to treat them. Without mulch, set G inches deep. Well-decayed peat is 
also an excellent mulch. Always plant on fresh ground or ground that has not had Lilies for the two 
previous years. 
The flowering season of Lilies varies much. Bulbs stored in cellars and planted late often bloom 
much later than those fresh from the ground. The blooming season of Auratum can be much prolonged by 
setting late in the spring a few bulbs that have not started. I have had excellent success with Auratums 
when set in an inch or two of fresh sphagnum moss. It seems to induce root-growth at the bottom of the 
bulbs. I use this fresh sphagnum under Auratums, Candidums, Testaceums, Superbums, Grayi and 
Speciosums. My stock is for the most part fresh from beds. 
LILIUM auratum. Golden - banded Japan Lily. 
This is the most popular Lily grown. No spe¬ 
cies ever had so much general favor. It is a 
very variable species in the size, color, etc., of 
its flowers, and also in the time of flowering. A 
bed of 100 Auratums will produce flowers over 
a longer time than a hundred of any other Lily 
species. Flowers white, with a central band 
and numerous deep purple spots. Height 2 to 
G feet, not rarely bearing 20 large, fragrant 
flowers 8 to 12 inches across. Its fragrance is 
so strong that a bouquet of Auratums will fill a 
large church with their odor. July and August. 
First-sized bulbs. N., 20 cts. each, $1.75 per 
doz.; P., 23 cts. each, $2.05 per doz. 
L. —, var. rubro-vittatum is a rare form, in which 
the central band is deep red. N., GO cts. each; 
P., G5 cts. each. 
L. Brownii (L . Japonicum , var. Brownii). Bears 
3 to 4 flowers, 7 to 8 inches long, partly droop¬ 
ing; chocolate - purple outside, white within. 
July. N., 50 cts. each; P., 53 cts. each. 
L. canadense. Wild Yellow Lily. Flowers vary 
in color—red and yellow. Grows 2 to 5 feet 
high, and is a most hardy species. Nice to 
plant among shrubbery, and does quite well in 
shade. June and July. N., 12 cts. each, $1.15 
per doz.; P., 15 cts. each, $1.30 per doz. Seeds, 
8 cts. per pkt. 
L. candidum. Madonna Lily. Handsome, large, 
fragrant, pure white flowers. Easy of culture; 
does best when left undisturbed after planting. 
August and September are the best months to 
plant this Lily. N., 15 cts. each, $1.40 per doz.; 
P., 18 cts. each, $1.70 per doz. 
L. Chalcedonicum. Scarlet Martagon, Turk’s 
Cap. A charming and delicate-flowered species. 
No one could help admiring it. July. N., 50c. 
each; P., 55 cts. each. 
Lilium croceum. Golden yellow ; closely follow. 
Davuriciim in blooming. N., 15 cts. each; 
P., 18 cts. each. 
L. Davuricum. This Lily resembles L. Philadel- 
phicum, but is a much better Lily of easy culture 
and more permanent. N., 15 cts. each, $1.15 
per doz.; P., 17 cts. each, $1.30 per doz. 
L. elegans, var. atropurpureum. This is the darkest 
red form of Elegans I have ever seen. Very 
healthy and a handsome Lily. N., 20 cts. each'; 
P., 23 cts. each. 
L, —, var. astrosanguineum. A variety with dark 
red blotches on its petals. N., 20 cts. each; P., 
22 cts. each. 
L. — ,var. aurantiacum multiflorum. N., 15 cts. each, 
$1.25 per doz.; P., 17 cts. each, $1.40 per doz. 
L. —, var. “Best Red.” Is a most healthy form of 
this species, and will be found to stand more 
hardships than most Lilies. It is only a little 
more than a foot high, and has deep red flowers. 
N., 15 cts. each, $1.25 per doz.; P., 18cts. each, 
$1.45 per doz. 
L. elegans, var. Cloth of Gold. A very fine golden 
yellow form of L. elegans. N., 40c. each; P., 
43c. each. 
L. —, var. fulgens (L . Batemannii). This is a 
strong variety of L. elegans , about 2% feet high, 
with reddish salmon-colored flowers. One of 
the best. N., 15 cts. each, $1.25 per doz.; P., 
17 cts. each, $1.45 per doz. 
L. — var. nigromaculatum. N., 15 cts. each; P., 
17 cts. each. 
L. —, var. Thunbergianum. Flowers pale scarlet in 
June. Japan. N., 15 cts. each, $1.15 per doz.; 
P., 18 cts. each, $1.30 per doz. 
AT. preceding the prices indicates not prepaid; P. indicates prepaid. 
