UNUSUAL LILIES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 3

UNUSUAL LILIES

FINE DISPLAY BY N.Z. SOCIETY Although lilies flower from November until April, now is the season of main bloom, and colour and fragrance mark the display being staged by the New Zealand Lily Society in Beath’s lounge. As most lilies are’ hardy when grown under conditions in Christchurch and their form, colouring and scent are diverse, a boom in lines is expected. A vase of perfect Candidum. known in New Zealand only as Christmas lilies, makes a perfect window background for the display. The white and massiveness of the Candidum contrast with the colouring, shading and daintiness of the Martagons. one of which is of deep lilac with purple spots, another of purple with mahog-r any. The Martagons, sent to Christchurch by Mr J. C. Morris, of Gore, show that lilies travel well. A noveltv sent by Mr Morris is a hybrid, Scottiae, of the chalice type, of bold orange with plum spots. Marhan. a Martagon-Hansoni cross, is a verv.deep brown, raised by a famous United States lily grower, Mrs Backhouse. In the Gore collection was a Ransoni, in the same form as the Martagons, but with thick, fleshy petals. A white Superbum, with a large number of flowers, also pleases. Hybrids of the Umbellatum type, with wider petals and also a varied range of orange Shadings, have been admired, while two Dauriucam, Lord Melraine and Fantasy, are lilies seldom seen. Another unusual type of lily is the species Szovitsianum. of buttercup yellow with dainty spots of purple. Of the same family, but different in shape and colour, is a Colchium. Only two bulbs are known to exist of the Martagon-Pardilinum cross raised by Dr. Fletcher Telford, of Christchurch, and grown by Mrs F. L. Scott. The lily is brown with very deep spots and a yellow band. Although its form leaves much to be desired, Landreyii, obviously a Tiger and Wilmottiae cross, originally made by the late Mr H. Landery, a pioneer lily grower, has sentimental value for lily enthusiasts, who are also taking an interest in a cross by Dr. A. C. McKillop from a Preston hybrid; Davidii is obviously one of the families used. One of the features of the exhibition is the Candidum raised by Mrs Tracy, of Governor’s Bay, from scales in two years. Her exhibit shows how keen gardeners may rapidly increase their stock of good lilies.