230 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
effect upon them; besides the rank, luxuriant foliage 
will completely shade the ground, that the scorching 
and drying influence of the sun will, to a great extent, 
be prevented. 
Many of the gardens that are now bare and desolate 
might have been beautifully carpeted with grass and 
flowers, had they been properly cared for. As a means 
of retaining moisture in the soil, as well as of improv¬ 
ing the appearance to the eye, the practice of hoeing is 
not so frequently resorted to iu the course of the season 
as it ought to be. It is no uncommon thing to see the 
hoe and the rake laid aside in the dry weather from the 
mistaken idea that loosening the ground has a tendency 
to dry it out. Experience teaches us that when the sur¬ 
face of the soil is kept loose, the bulk beneath continues 
longer in a humid state. Besides, a loose surface would 
seem to attract moisture : for, if we examine a plot of 
ground where the soil has been lately stirred, and an¬ 
other in a hard crusted state, we shall find a more 
abundant deposit of dew upon the former than upon 
the latter. This must be invigorating to the plants dur¬ 
ing excessive hot weather: in fact, our experience 
proves beyond a doubt that the more we use the hoe. 
the more flourishing is the growth of the plants, other 
requisites being equal. In cultivating our many acres 
of bulbs and annuals, we keep the cultivator and hoe in 
constant operation, going over every part of our grounds 
at least once a week and, if possible, after evory shower 
even though it be twice or thrice a week. Hoeing or 
cultivating, to kill the weeds, is with us a secondary 
consideration. AVe hoe to encourage plant growth, by 
having the soil in a proper condition for their perfect 
development. The result is. that under such treatment 
the weeds cannot grow. There are many gardeners 
that would never hoe the garden except to kill the 
weeds, thinking, seemingly, that that is all the benefit 
there is in the use of the hoe. To such, weeds are bless¬ 
ings in disguise ; they keep the hoe at work, the result 
of which is clean grounds and large crops. There is less 
occasion for constant cultivation in light sandy earth 
which continues open and loose, than in stiff, clayey 
soils : nevertheless, it is of the greatest benefit to keep 
all soils constantly cultivated. In fact, the hoe should 
never lie idle whilst summer lasts ; it keeps the ground 
in a favorable state for the growth of the plants, is the 
best safeguard from a weedy flower-plot, and imparts a 
freshness to the appearance of the ground. But very 
little real work is necessary in the garden during the 
month, further than to keep the surface of the ground 
loose; this will give ample time to enjoy the fruits of the 
labor already bestowed upon it. Next month the opera¬ 
tions for the coming year must be commenced in earnest. 
LILIUM AURATUM. 
Complaint comes to us from every quarter about the 
hardiness, not only as regards its being able to with¬ 
stand the rigors of our winters, but of its adaptation to 
our climate in summer. One writer says he “has 
planted them annually for a number of years, and has 
never succeeded in flowering them after the second 
year: that, in looking for the bulb after flowering, he 
finds nothing but a mass of fibrous roofs.” Another 
says. “ I had last year a bulb which gave me twenty 
flowers; this year all there is to be seen of it is a few 
spindling plants but a few inches high. What is the 
matter?” We notice the same complaints in the vari¬ 
ous horticultural papers in this country and Europe. 
Now let us state a few facts in regard to this, the grand¬ 
est of all Lilies. First, as to hardiness, with us they 
have, under all circumstances and in all situations, 
proven as hardy as any of the family, and that a dry, 
arid soil and exposure to sun does not injure them more 
than any others. Secondly, the shortness of their lives. 
Am individual bulb of the Auratum is as long-lived as 
that of any other Lily. All bulbs decay as soon as they 
reach the limit of their growth, some in one season, 
some in two, three or four. The L. Superbum lives 
but one yeay and travels an inch or more, owing to the 
hardness or dryness of the soil in which it grows, form¬ 
ing a new bulb or bulbs at the end of an underground 
neck or stem. Others decay annually, forming new 
bulbs on either side of the flower-stem. The failure, if 
any there is, lies in reproduction. The Auratum, like 
the Speciosum and others, forms a new bulb inside the 
old one for two or three years, after which it perpetu¬ 
ates itself by forming new bulbs at the base of the stem. 
To increase this Lily, or to keep up a stock, these young 
bulbs must be taken off and planted in a deep rich soil. 
This bulb, more than any other, requires to be planted 
deep, in order that young bulbs may form above the old 
ones, which they will not do if the old one is near the 
surface, particularly if in dry, gravelly soil. If a bulb 
is planted eight or ten inches deep, new ones will form 
just above the old one, and they will continue for a long 
time to increase and bloom. On the contrary, when a 
large bulb is planted near the surface, a too common 
practice, it wastes away, having lived its appointed 
time, and new ones do not form for the reasons already 
given. In Lily culture, like the culture of most other 
plants, the grower always selects the largest, expecting 
greater results; herein lies the mistake, for it is young, 
vigorous bulbs or plants make the strongest growth, are 
the most prolific bloomers, and are the most capable of 
reproduction. Lastly, the remedy lies in selecting 
young, vigorous bulbs, and planting them very deep. 
We should no more expect a strong, prolific growth 
from an old bulb, than we should expect a hard day’s 
work from an old man. 
See that the feelings, thoughts, actions of each hour wide pasture is but separate spears of grass; the Bheoted 
are pure and true; then will your life be such. The bloom of the prairies but isolated flowers.' 
