Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-04-01


Directions For Setting the Bulbs
and Protecting Young Plants.
Copyright. 1899 by the Authorl
After the candidum lily is once estab-
lished it is more easily grown than the
common Irish potato That may seem
strong statement but still it holds
true The potato needs planting each
year, each year it needs cultivating,
hoeing and keeping from the Sapreda
tions of insect pests, and finally in the
fall it 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 florist, quite
likely the price will be quarter of a
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 l 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
If 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 60 cents, OF perhaps some
might even send more.
What is the candidum lily? 1t is one
of the purest and prettiest white lilies
that the sun ever shone upon and is
commonly known as the Easter lily,
Eo,n11Sn ~ -, f,rnoI IN, low
titles for this holy day. 1t is not every
one who makes a success of forcing this
lily, but taking it in a section of coun-
try not too wet and not too cold it may
be grown ont of doors in great perfec-
tion.
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 80
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
shoHld be set deep in the earth-from s
to IL inches will be none too deep.
Then when the blossom stalks come
they will not need supporting, as they
would if set nearer the surface. Then,
too, if the winter should prove a cold
one they would be deep enough not to
be injured if properly protected
In setting the lilies have hole or
trench dug about Is 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 over
the place in winter time, as 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
he 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 if only 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 off the main
stalk to make them branch ont, for it
is upon this central stalk that the flow
er buds come
To force the candidum lily for Easter
blooming the bulbs should be set in
August if possible. A deep pot or pail
will be needed, as the bulbs should be
set deep down in the earth. or else. when
the flower stalk comes it will not have
strength to hold itself up If this is
likely to prove the case with bulbs
which have been potted, the pot itself
should be reset in a larger, deeper one
or in pail or whatever is convenient
and the earth packed about the lily
stalks
The pot in which the balbs are set
should have a goodly amount of broken
crockery for drainage, and upon this
should he placed ii layer of sand, filled
up with good soil, then bed of sand
for the lily bulbs, which cover well and
firm the earth. The earth should be
moist, but not wet nor soggy. Put the
pOtted bulbs away in the dark for some