HARDY BULBS
Liliums--Liliums in
Pots--Malvastrum--Merenderas--Millas--Narcissi--Narcissi in Pots
LILIUMS
The Lily is the noblest of bulbous plants, and it is to be regretted
that its cultivation often presents insuperable difficulties in many
gardens. There are a few species which can be grown almost anywhere, it
is true, but the greater number require special conditions of soil or
climate. As this noble plant may form the subject of a separate work in
this series, I shall only give a brief summary of the leading species
and their requirements for the benefit of the general reader.
The easiest to grow in the garden are those which are satisfied with
ordinary, well-dug soil, with the addition of some leaf-soil, if it is
heavy, or some loam, if light. This class comprises the favourite
candidum, the Madonna Lily, of which there are several varieties, such
as one with a golden margin to the leaves; spicatum, also known as
flore pleno, which has partly double flowers; and striatum, with
flowers streaked purple outside. There are also chalcedonicum, with
scarlet "Turk's-cap" flowers and its variety Heldreichii; the dark-hued
hybrid dalhansoni; bulbiferum; the pretty concolor, with its forms
Coridion and pulchellum; the brilliant croceum; dauricum, known as
umbellatum in some gardens; the pretty elegans (syn. thunbergianum);
the good yellow Hansoni; and that comparatively new Lily, Henryi. In
this soil, also, can be grown the exquisite longiflorum, with its
trumpet-shaped blooms, and its varieties giganteum, eximium (Wilsoni of
some), foliis albo-marginatus, Takesima, Harrisii, and præcox. The
hybrid Marhan thrives in the same soil, as also do the typical
Martagon; the pretty pomponium; the strongly-scented pyrenaicum; and
the ever popular speciosum (syn. lancifolium), of which there are so
many good varieties, such as album Krætzeri, album novum, Melpomene,
roseum superbum, cruentum and punctatum. To these may be added the
pretty tenuifolium; the well-known tigrinum, with its forms splendens,
Fortunei, and fl. A selection of varieties of L. elegans would include
such as Alice Wilson, alutaceum, atrosanguineum, aurantiacum, Batemani,
often called L. Batemanniæ, Horsmanni, Flore-pleno, Prince of Orange,
Van Houttei, and Wilsoni. There are also a number of varieties of
umbellatum.
The following Lilies require a deep and well-dug friable loam,
lightened with sand and leaf-soil if of a clayey nature:--
Alexandræ, a fine new Lily; the splendid auratum with its many forms,
of which platyphyllum, rubrovittatum, virginale and Wittei may be
named; Bolanderi; Brownii; callosum; columbianum, giganteum and the
allied cordifolium; the fine Humboldtii; the rather unsatisfactory
japonicum, better known as Krameri; japonicum Colchesteri; Leichtlinii;
Lowii, neilgherrense. Martagon album; M. dalmaticum; M. cataniæ;
nepalense; pulchellum; the pretty new rubellum; rubescens; sulphureum;
monadelphum or szovitzianum--a well proved species--Wallacei, and
washingtonianum. Although these all do with the compost named,
unfortunately some are almost impossible to grow in ordinary gardens.
The following like a moist peaty soil, although some can be grown
without this, but it is safer to study their likings:--canadense with
its varieties; carniolicum; Grayii; maritimum; pardalinum, with its
varieties californicum, Bourgæi, Johnsoni, minor, and Michauxii;
Parryi; parvum; philadelphicum; Roezlii; and superbum.
In planting Lilies, they should have the crowns from four to six inches
below the surface, and should be surrounded with some sharp sand. In
heavy soil it is desirable to plant the bulbs on their sides.
LILIES IN POTS
Lilies make beautiful pot plants, and in pots their cultivation is very
simple. Fibrous loam, peat, and a little decayed manure and sand will
grow them well. It is a good practice not to cover the bulbs too deeply
at first, and to add soil afterwards as growth is made and roots formed
at the base of the stems. Watering must be carefully applied, so as to
give enough without souring the soil. Plunge the pots in frames, and
bring them in when growth is so far completed, or place outside in
sheltered positions until they show flower. Repotting is best done as
soon as the stems are quite withered.
MALVASTRUM GILLIESII
This is a very pretty little trailing rock garden plant, with tuberous
roots, and only a few inches high. It likes a sunny place, but must not
suffer from drought in summer. The flowers are of a bright
crimson-purple. It is hardy in a sheltered rockery.
MERENDERAS
The Merenderas are closely related to the Colchicums, and are amenable
to similar treatment. The species grown in gardens are M. Bulbocodium,
four inches, lilac, blooming in autumn; caucasica, blooming in May, and
having rosy flowers; and persica, which flowers in late autumn and has
pale lilac blooms.
MILLA
The Millas are pretty bulbous plants, but the only one worth growing as
a hardy bulb is M. uniflora, often called Triteleia uniflora, which has
white flowers, shaded with blue, in spring. The form violacea has
porcelain-blue flowers striped with a deeper blue. The Milla can be
grown in the border or rock-garden, but it likes the edge of a gravel
path, where it will soon establish itself. Plant in early autumn with
the crown about two inches deep.
NARCISSI
It is impossible to treat properly of the Narcissus in the space
available in a work of this character, but as it is proposed to publish
a volume devoted entirely to this charming flower, it will be
sufficient to give a chapter dealing generally with the flower and its
ways.
Generally speaking, the cultivation of the Narcissus out of doors is
without difficulty, if we can give it a free, loamy soil, and a pure
air. The exceptions are few, except that there are some species which
are troublesome, and apparently resent being grown in cultivated
ground, and die off there. Some of these will thrive on grass or on
rockwork, while they die in the border. The white trumpet Narcissi are
among the most troublesome in this respect, and some find it necessary
to plant them on grassy banks facing the north. This is not desirable
in the north, and it will be well to try various positions before
finally giving up the cultivation of the fascinatingly beautiful white
trumpet Narcissi. The Hoop-petticoat Narcissi, as the forms of N.
Corbularia are called, are difficult to establish. Those who wish to
attempt them may begin first with citrina, the sulphur one. Many find
them thrive best planted where the roots can reach water, such as in
light, peaty soil, above a milk pan sunk in the soil. The writer has,
however, frequently seen plants established in the border or
rock-garden. Triandrus albus, the exquisite "Angel's Tears," is
troublesome to establish also. It ought to be planted in a crevice of
the rockery in gravel, sand, and peat. The form Triandrus pulchellus,
although scarce, is a much better grower. The beautiful little N.
moschatus, of Haworth, is difficult to grow except on grass; and others
which thrive better thus planted than in the ordinary border are named
by Messrs Barr. Their list may be safely followed, although one's
experience of several is that they grow quite well in a border; much,
however, depending upon the character of the soil and how it is
drained. The varieties are:--Achilles, Countess of Annesley, Spurius,
Thomas Moore, Pseudo-narcissus, the English Lent Lily, variiformis, and
pallidus præcox. Few of the Tazetta Narcissi are suitable for outdoor
culture, although in the milder districts of England and Ireland they
may be grown in the open.
As the Narcissus prefers a soil without animal manure within reach of
its roots, it is better to cultivate it in land manured for a previous
crop, or to add artificial fertilisers, than cow or horse manure.
Experienced growers prefer a small quantity of basic slag or bone meal.
In light soils a sprinkling of sulphate of potash is applied annually
in autumn.
Planting is best done early in autumn, September being a good month,
but the varieties of N. poeticus should be in earlier if possible.
Occasional lifting and replanting is advisable.
NARCISSI IN POTS
In cultivating the Narcissus in pots or boxes a somewhat similar method
may be adopted as in the case of Hyacinths in pots, but they will
generally stand more forcing. The Tazetta, or Bunch-flowered Narcissi,
such as Paper White, are largely used, and can be had very early in
bloom.