Hardy Ornamentals, Herbaceous Plants, Etc. 
15 
(See page 18.) 
LILIES. 
Probably no genus of cultivated plants is so well known and highly prized as this. The species 
are among the grandest and most beautiful of cultivated bulbs. About all of the species are hardy in 
well drained soil. It is well, however, as a precaution against very severe frost, to cover the bulbs in 
autumn. A few inches of horse-manure, well mixed with straw, as it often is when it comes frosh 
from the stable, makes a very good covering; besides, the rains and melting snows carry the fertiliz¬ 
ing strength of this down into the soil before it is removed in the spring; and thus, it answers a double 
purpose. Two or three inches of forest leaves, with a thin layer of swale hay to hold them in place, 
is also good. Some of the stronger-growing kinds are well suited for planting among shrubbery. && 
In the cultivation of Lilies, the first and most important requirement is good drainage. If the soil 
itself is not suited to the species, it may be easily modified by the use of such mixtures as sand, pent 
and leaf-mold, but without the drainage all such are useless. Better not to allow the bulbs to he ex¬ 
posed to the air or light any great length of time; the outside scales of such exposed bulbs wither, 
which greatly diminishes their strength. It is, therefore, generally better to obtain bulbs fresh from 
the nursery, which, if packed immediately after lifting in damp sphagnum moss, will stand a journey 
of 8 or 12 days, and arrive in the most perfect condition. 
Lilies often do much better the second or third year after planting. Bulbs fresh from the nur¬ 
sery, taken up with their entire roots and packed so their roots do not dry or wither, do not usually 
take so much time to get a start. It is generally believed that the best time to set Lilies is in autumn, 
but I have had quite as good success with spring setting. If they are taken fresh from the nursery 
before they have advanced too far in growth, they do nicely. 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 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 nor too shallow. If the bulbs could bo 
set 4 inches deep at first, and then after they are up, say 6 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, 
When no mulch is given. I would set 6 inches deep. Well-decaj T ed pdat is also an excellent mulch. It 
keeps the bulbs cool and holds the moisture. 
