CULTURE OF THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
123 
Horticultural Essays, 
By the Members of the Regent’s JParh Gardeners Society. 
ON THE CULTURE AND FORCING OF THE LILY 
OF THE 'VALLEY. 
By Mr. D. Watt. 
The Convallaria majalis , or Lily of the Valley, is an elegant 
and delicate-scented plant, which has long been held a favourite, 
though from the circumstance of its not being a native of hot 
countries, it is not likely to be the Lily of the Valley mentioned 
by Solomon. Notwithstanding the fragrance of the flowers 
when fresh, they have when dried a narcotic odour, and if 
reduced to powder will excite sneezing. An extract prepared 
from the flowers, or from the roots, partakes of the bitterness as 
well as of the purgative properties of aloes. A beautiful and 
durable green colour may be prepared from the leaves with 
lime. 
This little plant is very common in the woods about Woburn 
in Bedfordshire, and from whence the London markets are sup- 
plied with the flowers; it also grows in great abundance in 
Essex, and in some of the southern counties of Scotland. In 
Essex it is to be found to the extent of several acres in one 
place, on a soil of a very close loamy texture, mixed with clay. 
The situations which it seems generally to inhabit are somewhat 
marshy ; in such places the plant will grow and thrive amazingly, 
producing heads of pure white flowers full six inches long. 
They should be planted in a situation and soil similar to that 
I have just described. Before planting, dig over and well break 
the ground about nine inches deep, then plant the roots, about 
four inches apart, all over the surface of the ground, giving them 
a gentle press down with the thumb and finger, and then cover 
them about four inches thick with the same sort of soil. On 
forming new plantations of this plant, I select all the flowering 
buds from my stock of roots, which I plant by themselves, but 
in the same way as I do the others. If equal quantities of each 
