The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-04-06
THE CANDIDUM LILY,
HABITS OF THE PLANT WHICH BLOC
SONS FOR EASTER.
Easy of Cuiture When Once Esfnb-
Iished and IA Wonderful Producer.
Directions For Setting the Bulbs
md Protecting Young Plants.

After the candidum lily IL once estab
iished it is more easily grown than til,
common Irish potato That may seem a
strong statement but still it hold.
true The potato needs Planting each
year. each year it needs cultiyating.
hoeing and keeping FROM the dspreda.
lions Of insect pests. and finally in the
fall il needs digging and storing With
the candidum lily at least more than
half of this work is not required. In
the FIRST place. the bulbs may cost some
thing If bought Of the forist quite
likely tho price win be quarter of q
dollar for one large bulb of extra
strength Bulbs Of this size and price
are suitable FOR forcing. but it is not
forcing for winter blooming Of which |
wish to speak. | want to urge our farm
ers' wives TO make an outdoor setting
of these lilies next fall Any time now
will do, from August until just before
it freezes up, but the earlier the better
II one must buy the bulbs, it Is not too
early to order them. and any reliable
florist will send them at the rate Of
three for go cents Or perhaps some
might even send more
What is the candidum lily? 1t is one
of the purest and rrettiest white lilies
that the sun ever shone upon and is
commonly known as the Easter lily
because it is forced in such large quan-
titles for this holy day. 1t is not every
one who makes success Of forcing this
lily but taking it in a section Of conn
try not too wet and not too cold it may
be grown out Of doors in great perfec-
ton
A lady in New York state who has
had these lilies growing for years says
she does not know what to do with
them when in blossom, she has SO many
of these pure. waxen blooms One clus-
ter. including buds. numbered over 33
Now, in regard to cultural points,
these lilies want location that is not
wet well drained. but not SO high as
to be utterly devoid of moisture at all
times. even after rain. The bulbs
should be set deep in the earth from s
to II inches win be none too deep.
Then when the blossom stalks come
they will not need supporting. as they
would II set nearer the surface. Then.
too, If the winter should prove cold
one they would be deep enough not to
be injured If properly protected
In setting the lilies have hole or
trench dug about 8 inches in depth
the length to depend upon the number
to be set In this hole or trench put
about three or more inches of sharp
sand. as the water will drain away
from sand and nothing is more destruc-
tive than too much water at the base of
these bulbs Set the bulbs on the sand
cover them over first with sand and
then with good garden soil-not heavy
and cloddy. but good mellow soil Press
the earth firmly about them. and after
all this is done. if nearly time for frost
put good mulch of leaves or straw or
coarse, strawy manure over them.
something that the winds will not blow
away and something that will afford a
blanket TO keep out the winters cold.
1t is well to have the snow drift ever
the place in winter time us this is one
of the best of blankets to protect half
hardy plants
When spring comes, lift the mulch
and let nature take its course 1t may
be that the lilies will not bloom
much the first year. possibly not at all.
but when they have become established,
as they will do in time, the flowers will
be lovely enough to compensate for
waiting
Candidum lilies do not flourish when
disturbed. but do best if left to grow
on from year to year in the same place,
and II only u few bulbs are set to start
with these will increase until fine
clump or mass of them will lift their
snowy heads to the kiss of the summer
wind
1t Is not well to break eff the main
stalk to make them branch out. for il
is upon this central stalk that the flow
er buds come
10 force the candidum lily for Easter
blooming the bulbs should be set in
August if possible A deep pot or pail
will be needed. rs the bulbs should be-
set deep down in the earth. or else, when
the flower stalk comes, it will not have
f'rength to hold itself up If this is
likely to prove the case with bulbs
1891 Ht'N 'OtH POtttu. tue lISelI
should be reset in larger. deeper one
or in pull or whatever is convenient
ind the earth packed about the lily
stalks
The pot in which the bulbs are set
should have a goodly amount of broken
crockery for drainage and upon this
should be placed layer of sand. filled
up with GOOD soil then bed of sand
fer the lily bulbs. which cover well and
hrm the earth The earth should be
moist. but not wet nor soggy Pit the
potted bulbs away in the dark for some
weeks from six to eight. anyway. and |
when the green shoots have come up
well above the surface of the soil bring
to the light and give them place
where they win not freefs A room ad-
joining one where good fire is kent IL I
a good place if the house is warm A (
ludicio Is amount Of water will be re-
quired. but not much other attention.
Sometimes the aphis or green louise.
attacks bulbs which have been forced,
and If this pest appears there is nothing
quite SO destructive to ii as the tobacco
remedy. either in smoke or used as
wnsh for the leaves The cheapest kind
of tobacco viii do. aud it should be
STEPPED until it looks like weak tea
With this spray or wash the infested