TO GROW LILIES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 26

TO GROW LILIES

SOME HINTS FOR AMATEURS AND OTHERS

The first principle of lily culture- 'is tho recogutiion of tho fact that rootaetion is fundamentally different from that of other bulbs, such as narcissi and tulips. With these latter tho roots develop annually from the baso of. tu° bulb; consequently such bulbs ,-suffor no harm when they are lifted durint' the;r resting period. AVith liliums tno facts aro materially different. They, unliko thoso already mentioned, liavo a fit a hard, testaceous skin intended for iiio purpose of retaining tho bulb's natural moisture when tho annual root's have died away. Tho narrow scales of lily bulbs aro arranged loosely, thoy aro fleshy and unprotected, and on exposure to air they rapidly shrivel and lose their vitality. The plain inference is that lily roots are intended to function continuously and provide a constant supply of moisture throughout the year. Under the, best of circumstances lilios do not appreciate disturbance; in tho caso of some species and all old bulbs, moving them is-froquqntly fatal. When, in addition to disturbance, all the roots are sheared off, and tho bulbs not only dried up but kept out of tho ground for several months, it is scarcely surprising that, lacking roots, the mutilated bulb structures frequently fail to re-establish themsolves. The vei^J existence of stem-roots indicates that the bulbs themselves. are not intended by Nature to provide all the nutriment for the superstructure. In this lies the explanation why imported bulbs frequently produce a good flower spike for the first season and then collapse. The bulbs provide tho germ of growth; tho stem-roots (if present) reinforce .the action, and build up the flowering stem. If such roots are not produced (or being produced aro allowed to remain above tho ground), the stem is liablo to collapse before it attains full growth. At the end of tho year there is little or no bulb for- tho following season, by reason of tho fact that the ■ perennial basal roots, by which the new bulb should have been produced and nourished, do not oxiat, having been obligingly sheared oft' by tho Jap-anese-exporter in tho interests of future business. Those who wish to establish imported lilies in permanent positions (as apart from growers who only desire flowors, or an effect for a single season) would do well to bear the above in mind and arrange their culture accordingly.

Lilies like manure, but for the most part revel iii peat or leaf mould, and decayed vegetable matter. Seedling plants take to such material naturally and establish themselves quickly, but in case of mature bulbs the first consideration should be the stimulation of new basal roots. The dry bulb is not

given a fair chance if it is planted in cold wet soil. It will, in all probability, throw its-energies into the flower stem in a desperate final attempt to reproduce its species, and then expire. A method which has been found remarkably effective is as follows:—Remove the soil for a depth of • two fset and fill in with well-trodden, freshly-fallen leaves mixed with grass cuttings and moist vegetable refuse. This forms a mild hot-bed which stimulates rootaction while the weather is yet cold enough to deter top growth. In addition, it keeps the situation well drained which is important. Cover the leaves with about three inches of fine soil and in this place- the bulb. Before planting, the dry bulb should be soaked in water for twelve hours or until tho scales have become plump aird brittle. This will stimulate the production of roots. It is a good plan to dust the bulb thoroughly with flowers of sulphur while it is still wet. This will effectively check and prevent fungous growth. The bulb, when.planted, should be covered with fine, dry soil-to the depth of at least twice its own height. Exception to this rule should be made m the case of Lilium Candidum and Lilium. Giganteum, which do best with the nose of the bulb only just below the surface.

j The bulb should be protected from* excessive dampness of soil by an upturned box or pot until such time as the stem appears above ground. Until this point the surrounding soil should be kept as dry as possible. In the ease of pot plants, the bottom heat principle may be followed with advantage, but as wet soil is to be avoided until growth is visible and overdry conditions are equally to be guarded against, the ideal method is to plunge the pot in a hot-bed in the open. . Lilium. Eegale is a lily with a wide future before it; it may be raised to flowering size from seed within, two years. This lily frequently produces abundant flowers in the- open border during its second year, if it is properly attended to. —Herbert G. Longford in "The Gardener's Chronicle."