Lilium Auratum

Lilium Auratum - Some forms have flowers nearly I foot across, with broad white petals copiously spotted with reddishbrown, and having broad bands of golden-yellow down the centre. The poorest forms have starry flowers and scarcely any markings. Several named varieties are particularly distinct, and the chief are cruentum and rubro-vittatum, which have deep crimson instead of yellow bands down the petals. Rubro-vittatum, which have deep crimson instead of yellow bands down the petals. Rubro-vittatum is a variety with a very distinct bulb, the foliage is darker, and it is a hardier, better doer than the type. Platyphyllum is also more easily grown than the type, more vigorous, and quite the best generally. The whitepetalled variety of platyphyllum, generally called virginale, is perhaps one of the most beautiful forms. Wittei and virginale, the flowers of which have no color but the golden bands; rubro-pictum, with a red stripe and spots; platyphyllum, with very large flowers and broad leaves; and Emperor, a grand flower, with reddish spots and centre. There are also some beautiful hybrids raised between L. auratum and some of the other species; for example, L. Parkmanni (between L. auratum and L. speciosum), which has large white flowers banded and spotted with carmine-crimson. It grows freely in peat or loam, a mixture of both with a little road-scrapings best fulfilling its requirements. Where the soil is naturally poor, light, and sandy, it should be taken out to a depth of 18 inches, and replaced with the compost above mentioned, or some fine well-enriched mould. The bulbs should be planted in this, and as soon as growth commences in spring, should be mulched with decomposed manure or short grass. If the garden soil be fairly good, it need only be well stirred and manured, but the manure should be thoroughly decomposed. A sheltered situation should be chosen, and, if possible, screened from the midday sun, and protected from westerly and southerly gales and from heavy driving rains; for this Lily is very susceptible to injury by cold draughts and cutting winds. No better place can be chosen than a snug nook sheltered from the north and east by shrubs, but at the same time open to the sun. The best examples that have been seen were grown in a Rhododendron bed, and planted in a deep, moist, peaty soil, where they have been for years undisturbed. When planted among other things the young and tender uprising shoots are greatly protected in spring. As to propagation, there is scarcely any need to enlarge upon that, as bulbs are imported so plentifully; and it is only necessary to separate the young bulbs and replant them in good soil. Those who increase this Lily from seed must be prepared to exercise a little patience, as the seed is long germinating, and the seedlings are several years before flowering. The seed should be sown, as soon as ripe, in a frame. The seedlings should be planted out as soon as the bulbs are of an appreciable size.

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