September  20,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER^ 
265 
Notes  on  Outdoor  Liliums. 
Dueing  the  months  of  August  and  September  many  brilliant  hardy 
Lilinms  are  at  their  best  in  the  open  garden,  and  it  will  be  generally 
conceded  that  they  are  amongst  the  most  effective  border  flowers. 
Many  of  them  have  been  grown  for  several  generations  in  British 
gardens ;  for  instance,  the  brilliant  nmbellatum,  the  chaste  and  fragrant 
candidum  (Madonna  Lily),  the  showy  pomponium,  and  the  spotted 
speciosum,  and  they  are  probably  more  largely  cnlcivated  at  the  present 
day  than  they  have 
been  at  any  period 
since  their  introduc¬ 
tion  to  these  shores. 
They  are  quite  hardy, 
they  require  little 
cultural  attention,  and 
none  that  may  not 
easily  be  provided  by 
inexperienced  cultiva¬ 
tors,  and  they  flower 
in  such  profusion  that 
even  a  plant  or  two 
suffice  to  produce  a 
gay  effect  in  a  small 
or  medium. sized 
garden. 
Some  of  these  showy 
outdoor  Liliums  may 
be  referred  to  a  little 
more  fully.  First,  of 
course,  comes  the 
stately  auratum,  the 
recognised  queen  of 
her  tribe.  There  is 
no  grander  border 
plant  than  the  golden- 
rayed  Japan  Lily,  and 
it  is  most  valuable  for 
pots  also.  This  species 
holds  the  foremost 
place  in  popular  esti¬ 
mation,  and  is  culti¬ 
vated  in  gardens  of 
all  sizes  and  descrip¬ 
tions.  Its  flowering 
period  is  August,  and 
in  congenial  positions 
fine  clumps  are  estab¬ 
lished  that  produce 
scores  of  noble  flowers 
every  year. 
L.  auratum  is  easily 
cultivated.  It  succeeds 
in  any  well  -  drained 
and  fertile  soil,  but  a 
peaty  compost  suits  it 
better  than  any  other. 
This  plant  is  so  effective  when  in  good  condition  that  it  is  well  worth 
while  to  devote  a  little  special  preparation  to  the  soil  in  which  it  is 
to  be  planted  in  November.  Work  the  earth  well  with  a  spade  to  a 
depth  of  18  inches;  and,  if  unfertile,  remove  a  few  spadefuls,  and 
place  in  a  mixture  of  loam  and  peat,  the  latter  predominating.  Cover 
the  bulbs  with  4  or  5  inches  of  soil. 
Lilium  laucifuliiim  (speciosum)  is  a  beautiful  species,  being  deli¬ 
cately  spotted  and  agreeably  perfumed.  But  it  is  not  cultivated  to  a 
great  extent  out  of  doors,  being  generally  reserved  for  greenhouse 
decoration.  L.  candidum  is  only  less  popular  than  auratum,  its  pure 
white  fragrant  flowers  being  in  demand  for  cutting.  It  is  of  an 
aco'immodating  nature,  succeeding  in  nearly  all  gardens.  Bulbs  are 
ready  in  autumn  con<<iderably  earlier  than  those  of  most  other  species, 
and  should  ba  ordered  in  August  or  September. 
The  Madonna  Lily  flowers  in  June  and  July.  The  Martagons  or 
Turk’s  Cap  Lilies  are  very  gay,  and  amongst  the  best  for  mixed 
borders.  There  are  many  varieties.  The  old  purple  form  is  well 
known,  also  the  white.  Chalcedonicum,  scarlet,  is  also  a  popular 
member  of  this  section.  A  great  improvement  on  the  old  Turk’s  Cap 
is  dalmaticum,  a  very  fine  and  distinct  Lily  that  is  making  headway  in 
popular  favour.  It  is  of  a  shining  purple  hue.  Its  white  variety  is 
most  beautiful  too.  These  Lilies  grow  about  3  feet  high,  and  bloom 
profusely.  They  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  will  grow  in  ordinary  garden 
soil,  flowering  in  July.  L.  pomponium  is  another  very  fine  old  Lilium  of 
the  recurved  or  Turk’s  Cap  character.  It  is  not  so  well  known  as  some 
other  varieties  that  have  been  named,  but  is  well  worthy  of  culture. 
This  species  is  as  free  in  bloom  and  accommodating  in  character  as  any 
Lilium  that  could  be 
•named.  It  succeeds  in 
any  ordinary  soil,  and 
does  particularly  well 
in  peat.  The  blooms 
are  deep  red. 
L.  Thunbergianum 
and  its  varieties  are 
amongst  the  dwarfest 
of  the  Liliums,  grow¬ 
ing  less  than  2  feet 
high.  They  are  flori- 
ferous  and  gay.  One 
of  the  finest,  and  it 
is  of  modern  introduc¬ 
tion,  that  I  have  tried 
is  L.  T.  Horsmani 
(fig.  71)  a  dark  flower 
of  splendid  form.  The 
Tiger  Lilies  (L.  tigri- 
num)  are  general 
favourites.  They  do 
well  everywhere,  and 
their  spotted  flowers 
are  always  admired. 
The  varieties  are 
numerous,  two  of  the 
best  being  L.  t.  splen- 
dens  and  L.  t.  For- 
tunei,  the  latter  being 
very  early  in  bloom. 
Its  double  variety  is 
also  a  very  handsome 
Lily,  and  these  three 
should  be  generally 
cultivated.  They  bloom 
in  August  and  Sep¬ 
tember.  The  last  to  be 
mentioned  is  L.  testa- 
ceum,  a  very  distinct 
species.  The  flowers 
are  of  a  nankeen  yellow 
colour,  and  are  borne 
abundantly.  L.  testa- 
ceum  is  hardy,  and  not 
particular  as  to  soil. 
From  the  remarks 
already  made  it  will 
be  gathered  that  the  outdoor  Liliums  are  of  very  easy  cultivation. 
Such  is  the  case  ;  but  nearly  all  like  a  well-drained  soil,  and  if  it 
is  enriched  they  grow  the  more  vigorously  and  bloom  the  more 
freely.  Speaking  generally,  planting  4  inches  deep  in  November 
may  be  advised.  They  are  capital  town  plants.  When  established, 
the  bulbs  increase  in  number ;  and,  if  other  clumps  are  desired,  the 
clusters  of  bulbs  may  be  divided,  and  the  bulbs  removed  planted 
elsewhere. — F. 
Imports  of  Trult. — During  the  eight  months  ending  August,  19)3, 
there  were  imported  into  this  country  Strawberries  weighing  52,225  ovt., 
value  £85,949  ;  Gooseberries,  26,045  cwt.,  value  £14,626  ;  and  Currants, 
64,458  cwt.,  value  £87,166.  During  the  season  the  black  Currants  have 
realised  from  78.  to  93.  per  half-sieve,  and  the  red  from  3s.  to  53«  per 
half-sieve. 
Lilium  Thunbergianum  Horsmani. 
