The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-04-14
HOW TO GROW LILIES OF THE
VALLEY.

From Sfrdmbridge X CI0thierS QudrierIy
The lily of the valley is such we'll
known perennial that description of
it seems useless yet, for the benefit of
those who are only familiar with this
beautiful little plant as an attractive
feature of a bouquet, it may be said
that the root of the lily of the valley is
fibrous, and that the leaves grow in
pairs, their stalks sheathing one within
the other, one leaf beng usually larger
than the other. In form the leaves are
radical, on long stalks, somewhat clip
tical, deeply ribbed, and marked with
a delicate tracery of nerves and veins.
The fowerstalk, which springs from
the root, and is about equal in length
to the leaves, bears beautiful, white
bell-shaped flowers, which hang in a
graceful raceme on the arching flower
stem. The most favorite form of the
lily is the one here illustrated, called the
Berlin variety.
The richer the soil, the better, in the
cultivation of the lily. An excellent
bed is one formed of leaf mould. When
the soil is stiff and heavy, mix with it
leaf mould and sand, in the proportion
of two parts to one. Leaf mould and
cow dung should be literally given to
light but poor soil, since rich porous
soil is essential.
When outdoor culture is intended,
in order to secure continuous bloom,
select various positions, varying from
shaded to sunny aspects. By so doing
the lilies will be in bloom till mid sum-
mer. The lily beds must be neither
too wet nor too dry, as the lily will not
flower under either extreme condition.
When planting-ou in the garden a
mixture Of one, two, and three years
old crowns is necessary in order to
keep-up good annual display. Plant
the three year old crowns at a distance
of three inches apart and place one
year and two-year old crown alter
nately between them. Allow from four
to six inches between the rows. A bed
thus planted will not need to be dis
turbed for six years, provided that a
good top dressing be annually applied.
When one has the facilities for grow
ing ones own plants, procure quantity
of one and two-year old crowns. Make
beds about four feet in width, each to
contain six rows of plants. Mark-out
parallel lines for the trenches. Press a
spade perpendicularly into the soil
about five inches deep, then draw the
spade towards you, holding one hand
on the top of the handle, and the other
half way down. When the trench is OF
required length, drop in the plants, at a
distance of one inch apart. Take care
that the soil Immediately surrounding
the plants be very firm. Plant crowns
of the same age together. When the
succeeding spring and summer are dry
or hot, water the lilies copiously and
often. Apply weekly a moderately
strong solution of liquid manure, during
the summer months.
Commence lifting late in October
and end early in March. Care must
be taken in digging-up crowns to place
the fork eight inches under the surface,
imbedding the prong in a mass ot
fibrous roots. Shake the earth from
the portion raised, before removing to
the house, where cleaning and separa.
ting take place.
Clean by removing the dead leaves
weeds, and other rotten vegetable mat
ter. Sorting and separating require
careful discrimination. The three-year
old Towering crowns are plump, and ot
a livid brown color from the base ot
the crown and nearly to the top, they
are very thick and comparatively hard
but suddenly merge into narrow neck
with an acute point. They are usually
half an inch in length. Two-year ole
are commonly of a dirty white color
and of the same uniform Size all the
way, very gradually forming into q
point; they are also thinner. The one
year old crowns are similar in shape tc
the last, but are much smaller and of q
pure white they will be found attached
to the main stalk of the two or three
year old crowns, from which they must
be separated without injuring the main
stem.
Of the single flower form there art
three notable varieties, the first possess
ing all the attractions of the typica
species, in addition to its golden striped
foliage the foliage of the second vari
ETY. is distinctly margined with broac
silvery bands forming striking con
trast with the remaining portions of th'
leaf and the third variety is one tina
produces fower-stems one foot il
height, the flowers are large and mucf
expanded, and the foliage broadly mar
gined with gold. The double fowe
form of the lily is not recommended
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