LILIES AND THEIR CULTURE. 
BY C. L. ALLEN. 
(Read before the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, at their Annual Meeting, Jan. Oth, 1K83. 
The Natural Order Liliaceae is a very extensive one, 
embracing several genera of the most remarkable plants 
under cultivation, prominent among which is the genus 
Lilium, a family that from the earliest ages has been 
assigned an exalted rank among herbaceous plants. 
This genus embraces more than sixty species, all of 
which belong to the northern hemisphere, and, with 
the exception of the few found in the mountains ol sub¬ 
tropical Asia, to the temperate regions. Our own 
country furnishes a large number of species, all of 
which are highly honored in foreign lands, and all but 
few of which are neglected in their own. Japan has 
furnished by far the largest number, and several of 
the most beautiful species under cultivation, including 
the Auratum, Lancifolium or Speciosum, Leiclitlinii, 
Krameri, Brownii, Tigrinum, and Thunbergianum. 
Lilium Candidum, one of the oldest, and by far the 
most beautiful species known, comes from the Levant. 
Asia furnishes the Chalcedonicum.and the Monadelplium 
with its many synonyms; Siberia, the lovely little 
Tenuifolium. while most of the other species are scat¬ 
tered throughout Europe. Thus will be seen the species 
has the widest geographical range. 
With the exception of those found in Japan and 
California, within certain limits, the species bear a close 
resemblance in their distinctive characters. In Japan 
nearly every character is represented, including some 
peculiarly her own, which are superior in point of true 
beauty and loveliness to those of any other, excepting 
one instance only, the Lilium Candidum, the chaste 
heauly of which is not equaled by that of any other 
flower. 
In each of the species there is a marked variation in 
the color and shape of the flowers, in the height 
and general habit of the plant; though not 
enough to be termed specific, yet, sufficient is the 
variation to enable the grower to multiply the 
varieties to an almost unlimited extent. A prominent 
merchant in Holland catalogues more than forty varie¬ 
ties of Thunbergianum, nearly the same number of 
Umbellatum, thirty-five varieties of Lancifolium, 
twelve of Tigrinum, eight of Candidum, and so on 
through the whole list. In either case, from one to six 
varieties would fairlj’ represent the species. In the 
work of multiplication of varieties, we are not alto¬ 
gether guiltless, which makes us feel keenly the truth 
of the assertion. 
The Lily is one of the few plants that has never- 
been improved by hybridization or cross-fertilization. 
Efforts without number have been made in this direc¬ 
tion, many of which I have watched with the greatest 
interest and the closest attention, yet I cannot note a 
single instance where there has been the slightest im¬ 
provement in the flower in any respect. On the contrary, 
I have usually noticed a decrease in the vigor and size 
of the plant. It seems to us that every step in the line 
of improvement has thus far been a step backward; at 
least there has been no improvement on the species, ex¬ 
cepting such as results from high cultivation, which 
increases the vigor of the plant, consequently the 
number and size of its flowers. 
A proper selection from the many species and varie¬ 
ties, in order to have the right plant in the place it is to 
occupy, is important in the work of Lily culture. While 
the Lily cannot be made to look poorly anywhere, it is 
subject to the same law of adaptation as that of any 
other plant. Of all herbaceous plants, these are the 
most ornamental, and there are none that will more 
amply remunerate the cultivator, for any care and 
attention that may be bestowed upon them. A proper 
selection will make their season long and unbroken, 
while the great variety in the form, size and color of 
the flowers, together with the very abundant manner in 
which they are produced, all contribute to impress 
them upon us as objects of real and peimanent 
interest and value. In cultivating the more valuable 
sorts, which include many of recent introduction, most 
persons experience considerable difficulty, and, not¬ 
withstanding, that seemingly, every precaution is taken 
to defend them from injury during the Winter season, 
it is found that many of them perish; and others, 
though they are preserved alive, are maintained 
in such a sickly condition that they never yield 
a flower in its perfection. It is but natural to suppose 
that for these injurious effects there must be an excit¬ 
ing vital cause. This we have long and patiently 
sought for. and will, in a few words, give you the 
results of our investigation and observation; and having 
shown you the cause of failure, the remedy will be 
obvious. 
The principle cause of failure in Lily culture lies in 
over-estimating its hardiness, its power to endure the 
rigor of our Winters. It is the general opinion of those 
having authority to speak for the Lily, that with but 
few exceptions, the species are all perfectly hardy. This 
opinion, supposed correct, finds its way into the seeds¬ 
men’s catalogues, prominent in the “ cultural instruc¬ 
tions,” and the same is found in all treatises on the Lily. 
So well established has this opinion become, that failure 
wholly due to this cause is attributed to some unknown 
one. This opinion is founded on the fact, that the species 
denominated hardy are natives of either cold or tem¬ 
perate climates. A more erroneous opinion, or one 
fraught with so much danger to the plant could not be 
entertained. The species that are truly hardy in this 
climate, other than those indigenous to the soil, are but 
few; indeed, they are the exception, not the rule. While 
it is true that some of the species are found in the cold¬ 
est parts of the habitable globe, growing most luxur¬ 
iantly, it is equally true those same species grown here 
are not hardy to that degree which renders it safe to 
plant them in our borders without protection. 'It is hut 
proper to remark at this time, that there is no climate 
so severe on all bulbous rooted plants, such as are 
usually considered hardy and left in the open border 
during the Winter, as ours. This is particularly appli¬ 
cable to the coast, from Massachusetts to Virginia, where 
the thermometer often indicates forty degrees of frost 
