St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-10-25
the. KING. or LiLiEs.I


n, stsaaoa BseuHy- Msss - sssa - -
Fully Realised.
] sm not aware that the great HiDa-
laysn lily-Liaism Si9ansssss-has been
previously grown In the open air In this
State; it Is . stranger to Western Now
York. I have reason 10 believe, until
this season. VA $500 ff.-tsti =
Ny Hrstexpsrience with this lily dates
back to the autumn OF 1855 when eev.
eral towering bulbs were ssent ne from
England TIE gigantic conical balbs
were potted and housed in cool house
over winter and planted in the open in
the spring. only to be cut down and
killed by an unexpected sharp frost dur.
ing early May. The following autumn
Q dozen small bulbs were sent me BY .
friend in North WaleA These, likewise.
were potted and housed over winter;
with the exception OF three. which were
planted late in November In the hardy
fernery. The latter all put forth leaves
tho following spring, showing cOnclp-
sively that the species is hardy in this
climate. The remaining bulbs -were
also placed in the fernery and the shaded
portion Of the rock-garden- OF eight Of
the dozen bulbs which survived. four
have just blossomed, che remaining four
being strong pants which, unq uestioa-
ably, will produce fiower-stalks next
season.
"a The ulaAts have all received slight
winter projection. Of leaves and every
spring the early projecting crown has
been protected by pots or other cover
ing Whenever any danger from frost ap'
peared. this lily being one Of the very
first plants to show above ground in
spring. and being extremely sensitive to
sudden cold. The stem begins it, as
cent early in the season. throwing out
the large. heart-shaped leaves. which
diminish in size as thcy advance upon
the stem. the flowers forming In great
raceme at the extremity Of the stalk.
Even as foliage plant independent
of its stately hower-stalk, this lily.
with its huge. glossy leaves. u striking
ly attractive. and the leaves remain
fresh and green until mid-autumn.
The strange beauty and majesty Of
the great Himalaysn lily must be seen,
however, to be fully realized; and 1t Is to
direct the attention Of all hOwer-lovers
to ono Of the grandest Of hardy plants
that am prompted to refer to It Its
beauty could only be fully portrayed by
. poet II any flower may bo termed
regal, this term applies to Liliww giean-
teup. .Itlooks like the inha5itsnt Of .
tropical jungle-s sacred flower Of the
far East supreme in it, stateliness and
its grace. ltssuave. haunting odoe sets
me dreaming. Fragrances asof jar@ineA
japanese honeysuckles and gardenias;
perfumes rs Of cascarills and sandal
wood; spices . Of sassafras and clove-
camation cling 70, its long,. chaste
chalice and scent the entire garden In
the evening. Then iron the cernuons
poise Of its great flower cluster. lodding
from the tall. tapering stalk above the
majestic leaves. and tue refinement and
beauty OF the long. trumpet-shaped
blooms! A distinct feature Of the six
petaled blossom is the penciling OF tho
inner petals these being exquisitely
shaded with purple merging to deep
lake from the extremity Of the flower 70
the fangc OF the chalio& a-si r=
Tho height Of the bamboo-like stalk
in the four specimens referred varies
from eight feet three inches to nine
feet, the diameter Of the thickest stalk
exceeding two. and . quarter inchsa
The flowers number from ton to twelve.
while tho individual blooms measure
from eight to nine inches In length.
After Towering. the stalk dies down,
and the old bulb shrivsis and diea
Each bulb has thrown out from two to
four oilshots. which will b lifted unA
placed where desired In tho autumn.-.
George II. Eilwanger. In Garden and
Forest ~ al's.-f II 9- n9h1f a..