Practical Gardening.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 6

Practical Gardening.

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B. Halliwell and M. lusty

Propagating Lilies By The Scaling Of Suitable Bulbs

As lilies pass out of flower, pvopaortkon by vegetative means can be earned out if requited. There are several methode by wtmeh this can be done, oucta tn by bulbiets or by spotting up the bulb clusters at iwhrfulitahM bufce. Another method is by scaling wbirah wiki be discussed in this attache.

White seed could be used for propagating the species, named varieties can only be propagated by vegetative means.

Nearly all Mies, both species and named varieties, can be propagated by scales. When propagating by vegetative means, with lilies at 1 other plants, choose only healthy specimens. Lilies have in recent years been found to be very prone to infection by virus disease and any plant showing symptoms should be discarded, at young bulbs produced would also be infected. Avoid propagating, therefore, from bulbs where the foliage is mottled or streaked with yeßow. Bulbs can be lifted as they pass out at flower or at any time white donnant. The outer scales at the buib are removed. The number removed will be governed

by the size of <the bulb but it is usual to remove two or three rows, alitbough with larger bulbs more can be taken without harming the bulb. The removal of too many wW impaiiT flowering in the following year.

As soon as the scales have been removed the bulb should be replanited immediaetly. The propagating medium consists of equal peris of sharp sand peat, leaf mould cr old rotten sawdust; this mixture should be moist but not too wet. The receptacles tn be used wiH depend on the number of scales that are to be taken. Pots or boxes are most commonly used. Drainage is provided and they are then three-quarters filled with the propagating medium.

Dip each scale in a mixture of equal parts of rooting hormone that is used for softwood cuttings and flowers at sulphur or other fungicide. The former induces more bulblets and In a shorter time, white the Latter gives protection against disease oraintonM. Bnsure that the scales are the right way up and then insert each up to half its depth in toe rooting medium. When ail the scales have been inserted toe container

should be watered and the scales completely covered with damp sphagnum moss. Place the receptacle in a cool shady place; the cooler toe better eapecially at tola' time of the year. Exclusion or partial exclusion of Light is recommended at least until the formation of the bulblets has taken place..

The time taken for the scales to produce bulblets varies with variety and

conditions but they should be apparent after about six weeks. When roots have formed on each bulblet they can be detached and potied separately if so desired. They may also be lined out in a shady pert of toe garden; while tins can be done during toe autumn, most people prefer to leave them in poto or boxes until the spring.

The number of bulblets produced on each scale will vary but it is rarely less than two. Flowering can be expected when the bulbs are about tirree years old but it is not uncommon for flowers to appear after two years. Avoid overwaitering the scales at all times and prevent excessive condensation such as would occur if the box was covered with glass or polythene as these conditions are likely to cause toe socles to rot.