Evening star., 1948-10-10
SomeLily Bulbs?
GetThem in Quickly yinWell.D Drained Bed;
Soil Preparation Is Major Factor
By w. n. Younumon

Lily culture Is fascinating hobby,
but many gardeners fear that they
don't dare to tackle it. Perhaps
they have gained this idea because
they do not see lilies growing in the
gardens about them; or perhaps it
is because they have tried one or
more kinds and failed. All of us
have our ups and downs when grow
ing lilies, but, having learned little
we should progress, not give up in
disgust.
= In the past it has been difficult TO
obtain disease-free bulbs. Gardeners
who have started growing lilies have
lost their entire stock through the
unfortunate purchase of diseased
bulb.
Not many years ago. lost my
entire planting of IS or 20 species
because OF tulip afflicted with
mosaic. The aphids spread the
disease from the tulip to the lilies
and they were soon gone.
Today, number of lily bulb
growers are specializing in selling
disease-free bulbs. Purchases of such
bulbs will help to overcome this diff
ficulty. 1t is also possible to buy
seed and grow your own disease
free bulbs 1t takes a little longer,
but is more economical.
Fun to Do Something New.
A second problem is proper plant
ing. This area is bit far south for
ease Of culture. In other words,
for most kinds of lilies more care
and soil preparation are necessary
for success here than would be the
case in Central Pennsylvania or
New York. However, there are sue
cessful lily growers in this area. The
fun of doing something different is
justification enough for the ambi-
tious gardener.
A major requirement for lily cult
ure is adequate drainage. Too many
of our soils are tight clays, soils
that hold moisture and provide con-
ditions conducive to rot. If the
soil does not have good subsurface
drainage 1t should be provided
either by draining the bed or by
raising the bed, so that the water
level is below the bulbs. This is
not easy for some of the species
which are planted 10 to II inches
deep. One may use tile drain if
necessary to take away the excess
moisture from a bed.
In addition to taking care Of the
excess moisture 1t is desirable to
place the bulbs on a cushion" of
pure sand, so that moisture does not
collect around the bulb The
cushion consists of a handful of
sand placed in the bottom of the
planting hole. Some 60 so far as
to cover the bulbs with sand. A few
varieties are so susceptible to injury
from moisture collecting between
the scales that they should be placed
on their sides.
Give Plants Cool Root Runs.
Most lilies prefer a cool root run.
Our soils tend to become too hot
Tor them. Take these precautions
First, incorporate quantities of leaf
mold and compost in the subsoil at
time of preparation. Second, mulch
the soil deeply during the summer.
These technique keep the soil cool.
Shrubbery or tall-growing ANIMALS
will keep drying winds from iniur-
Ing them. Even the tough old Tiger
lily dilium tigrinium) and the Re-
gale are much thriftier when given
this protection. However, don't 90
too far.
Lack Of air circulation creates a
humid condition that is favorable
to the development of disease.
Stone walls and dense hedges sur
rounding the lily planting create
such condition.
Biggest problem for the BEGINNER