LILIUMS

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 24

LILIUMS

Many amateurs admire lilies, but are diffident about attempting to grow them in their gardens. Too often the bulbs flower for a season, and then arc lost sight of. because alter dying down no record is kept of their position, and they are cut through and destroyed when the borders are dug over in winter. The further cause ol ill-success may nearly always be traced t> lack of understanding of the, requirements of some particular species, for there is no garden so poor hut that it will successfully grow at least two or illreu species. Practically all lilies enjoy shade, yet some, if given protection about their lower leaves, will thrive and increase in sunny places. Lilinm longiflorum. tho white lily flowering_ in November, and L. regale, flowering now, will both grow in an open, sunny position in companionship with hluefloworing delphiniums or partially shaded by any of the pink-flowering polyautha roses such as Ellen Poulsou ov "Orleans. But when among other plants they resent any crowding from rapidly-spreading or strong-growing t,vpc>. Tho ideal soil lor most lilies is made up chiefly of fibrous loam, leaf-mould, ami sand, and good drainage is essential. If the natural soil is heavy it is wise, to surround the bulb with clean sand to keep away superfluous water and give some protection from insect pests. 'I ho depth ol planting rs another important point and varies aecordi ug to the habit of growth. Manv of the lilies send out roots from the growing stem as well as from tho base of the, bulb, and these stem roots are vital to the health of the plant. '1 o give the plant an opportunity to form stern roots, the bulbs must he planted deeply, and a general rule which applies to L. regale, longiflorum, speciosum, auraturn, Mliphurcum, and philadelphieuin is to plant so that the top or apex of tiio bulb will be three times as deep a r s the greatest diameter. L. caudichnn, tire well-known madonna hR, which flowers in December, is an example of a group which requires shallow planting, from one and a-hall:_ to two times the depth of tho bulb being sufficient. A few hardy and beautiful kinds which may he successfully grown by any garden lover are;— Lilinm candidum (white), Madonna lily; L. regale, one of the most beautiful and hardiest of all known lilies (white, tinged yellow) ; L- longiflorum, L. tigrinum, and L. Henryi.