JULIA ECLARK 
» 
A Few General Rules 
of Lily Culture 
IILIET 
CANBVORL 
Plant lily bulbs upon arrival—they resent being moved and they deteri¬ 
orate the longer they are out of the ground. 
Best location, southeast exposure, in warm, sheltered, half shady place. 
Protect from late frosts, extreme heat of sun, and drought. 
Soil mellow, deep leaf mold, peat and loam, WELL DRAINED (soil through 
which water seeps without standing near the bulb). 
Depth: General rule, soil above bulb about 1% to 2 times size of bulbs. 
See catalogue description each lily for depth from base of bulb to top of soil. 
Best fertilizer is bonemeal. 
Dust powdered sulphur to keep insects from attacking bulbs until bulb is 
established and has sufficient strength to resist such attacks. 
Keep them moist during growing period. 
Many of the lilies have stem roots within an inch of the surface, and spread¬ 
ing out from the bulb 6 to 8 inches. These roots nourish the stalk—the stalk 
helps nourish the bulb for the next season, so don’t disturb these roots with 
cultivation—keep them cool and moist with mulch. 
Do not allow seed pods to form—they sap the strength for next season. 
Watch for gophers, field mice, and ground squirrels—they like bulbs. 
If used for cutting, leave at least 6 to 8 inches of stalk as nourishment for 
next year’s bloom. 
*/ 
Fall planting of bulbs is best, although a few of the varieties can be planted 
in the spring. If planted in the fall, they can establish themselves without being 
disturbed. 
After once planted, leave the bulbs alone. Do not move them every year. 
Do not plant home grown lily bulbs in soil where foreign bulbs of any kind 
have been grown. 
If the soil is stiff strong clay, dig hole 24 inches square and deep. Put in 6 
inches of broken gravel, crushed flower pots, etc. Then chopped sod (grass face 
downward). Then six inches of top soil mixed with compost, broken up well 
with sand, and several handsfull bonemeal. Firm down well. Then top soil to 
depth for bulb. Then plant bulb per above. For a scaly bulb, hold scales together. 
Fill in with good mellow soil well wetted down. Then, LEAVE THEM ALONE. 
In dry soils, sink drain pipes vertically into the ground among the bulbs 
to depth where water can come into immediate contact with the roots at the 
base of the bulb. 
JULIA E. CLARK, 
Canbv, Oregon. 
