Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-20
EASTkk LILIES.


a Sacred Flower for the Past Twenty-Five
Hundred Years.
From yicks Floral Guide.
What are theyY Not, ~ whole, what
they used to bo. We remember well when
Easter lilies were not lilies at all but callas
plants that had assumed the popular name,
lily, because of their purity and whitsness.
Then the Liiium cdndidum was termed the
Easter lily, not only because Of its rare and
chaste beauty, its delicious fragrance and Its
stately, graceful habit, but because the florists
are enabled to have 1t In the greatest proftlsion
at Easter, when wealth contributes 40 freely
To furnish flowers Tor the decoration oil the
church. This lily certainly IL more eni-
biematicsl of religious faith than any o,her
that bears the name.
The many varieties OF LitiHBl ion9WorHm
arc now claiming the distinction oi being
Easter lilies, because tho florists can supply
them for the occasion and because the howers
are of spotloss purity. Yet in all that goes
to make a beautiful tiower iOHgiHorUm ~ so
far behind cdndiiUm that there Is no COM
parisuu betw cen the two.
Every day the number OF Easter flowers
increases, but certainly there has been no
Improvement, or rather no addition, to the
charms possessed by the LiiIum cdHdidnB,
which has been in many countries considered
sacred flower for the past twenty-five hun
dred years
For decorative purposes this lily IL admir-
ably adapted, because in whatever position
1t IL placed, whether singly, in pots, in
groups, as a cutiiower In vases, or made into
foral designs II ever retains Its purity,
its dignity of character and Its delightful
fragrance. 1t sweetly resign Its life for the
ioy of others. What life could do more
As garden Hover the cultivation OF the
l.. cdndidum In most simple. 1t Will thrive
in any fairly good soil, but to insure a Tree
growth aud profusion OF flowers, the soil
should be rich, deep and moist Ii Is there
tore best to make suitable arrangements for
the bed by first selecting suitable situation,
and then putting 1t In the most perfect con
dition by digging deep and thoroughly on
Tiching. Paintings should be made in
August, when the bulbs are At rest And
having planted them, the next bost thing 10 do
~ To leave them undisturbed ~ long as
they bloom in q satisfactory manner. 1t an
excellent plan to mulch the bed with newly
fallen leaves, 10 the depth Of three inches, in
autumn. Shaded, or partially shaded, situ-
atoms are often recommended for lilies, and,
as rule, such are best, but for the cdndidunl
an open, sunny position, where IL can have a
free circulation OF air, IL preferable. Shei'
ter from our cold, nOrtherly winds is
desirable, IA In much-exposed places
the white lily often fails TO flower,
owing to the destruction Of the incipient
fiowsr-buds by frost In May. All early-iow
ering lilies should be protected from the cold
winds of spring Plenty of moisture IL also
desirable when the lily Is coming into Hover.
In respect OF taste, the white lily should be
so planted that its shabby stems will be con
cealed, for when wild 1t grows among tall
grasses, and hence il IL that a. the flowers
expand the leaves below them usually
wther. When planted among clumps OF
tritoma or yucca, the sdeep, leafy foliage
of these plants enhances the beauty OF the
lily.