BASAL ROT 
Though basal rot has been recognized for many, many years it Is 
still little understood even by the specialist. Fortunately it attacks 
only a limited number of lilies, and we are now learning that preven- 
tion and control are possible through disinfection and careful attention 
to good cultural practices. It is a kind of rot that starts either on the 
roots of the lily or at the basal plate and works up through the bulbs 
causing the scales to drop off and fall away. It is possible that it may 
be present in the soil in which the bulbs are planted. It is possible that 
it may be present on bulbs when they arrive from the nursery and it is 
also possible that some slight bruise or injury that occurs during pack- 
ing or mailing or handling in the garden may be responsible. As a pre- 
caution against basal rot’s developing we disinfect all bulbs before 
shipment, but this does not preclude their acquiring the disease, 
though it is a very real safeguard. 
We feel that the current habit of shipping bulbs with the roots 
intact is not helpful and may sometimes be harmful, as these roots 
rarely survive and take hold again in their new home but only tend to 
rot once they are in the soil. In some varieties that are not suscept- 
ible to basal rot the presence or absence of roots is relatively unim- 
portant. However, in our experience those lilies liable to basal rot are 
much less apt to acquire infection if the roots are clipped before the 
bulb is replanted. If they are removed, Hormodin or any of the stan- 
dard rooting powders will help the bulb to quickly form new and 
healthy roots. 
In the matter of basal rot there is a subtle factor worthy 
of mention. The purple form of L. Martagon which is native to 
Europe thrives in European gardens and is apparently not subject to 
basal rot. In this country the purple Martagon is a different story. 
There is no lily more susceptible to basal rot, even when it has been 
grown from seed here. The white Martagon, which is native to the 
same areas in Europe, thrives in both European and American gar- 
dens. These illustrations could be repeated many times with other . 
well known varieties. All we can say is that in a certain environment 
a given lily tends to thrive—or the reverse. No one has as yet been 
able to put his finger on just what occurs. This will, of course, be an 
area for some future research. 
In addition to L. Martagon type, the following lilies are especial- 
ly susceptible to basal rot in American gardens: L. chalcedonicum, L. 
testaceum, L. croceum, L. pardalinum, L. Humboldtii, some of the Bell- 
ingham hybrids, L. pyrenaicum, L. formosanum, and L. speciosum. 
It may be of interest to note that basal rot is probably the prin- 
cipal factor responsible for the serious losses that frequently occur 
in seedling lilies. We do not belong to the school that advocates grow- 
ing lilies from seed, chiefly because of these losses. 
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