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of the former year; and below the flowers, on the same shoot, other shoots come out to succeed them; for that part upon which the flowers stand decays down to the shoots below every winter. Therefore, if it is desired to preserve the tree in full beauty, care should be taken in plucking the flowers, not to take with them those young shoots which are to produce the flowers of the following season, or the blossoms will be comparatively few.

The earth should be kept moderately moist, and the Persian Lilac should be sheltered from frost.

When the Lilac blossom has attained its full beauty, it begins to fade gradually, until it becomes at last of a red colour. Thus Cowper speaks of them as sanguine :

"The lilac, various in array, now white,

Now sanguine, and her beauteous head now set

With purple spikes pyramidal, as if

Studious of ornament, yet unresolved

Which hues she most approved, she chose them all."

COWPER'S TASK.

"shrubs there are

Of bolder growth, that at the call of spring
Burst forth in blossom'd fragrance; lilacs robed
In snow-white innocence, or purple pride."

THOMSON'S SPRING.

LILIACEE.

LILIES.

LILIUM.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

French, le lis; lys.—Italian, giglio: in the Brescian, zei.

ALTHOUGH We usually associate the idea of extreme whiteness with the lily, so that it is common to express a pure white by comparison with this flower, as with snow, and as white as a lily is an old and common proverb, yet lilies are of almost every variety of colour: perhaps there is no other flower that varies so much in this respect.

"The Common White Lily," says Mr. Martyn, “has been cultivated in England time immemorial." The stem is usually about three feet high. The flowers are brilliantly white, and glossy on the inside. It is from the East; and in Japan the blossom is said to be nearly a span in length. This Lily flowers in June and July. The roots, which are mucilaginous, are sometimes boiled in milk or water, and employed in emollient poultices; but they have not much reputation. An oil for the same purpose was also prepared by infusing the roots in olive oil.

There are several varieties of the White Lily: as, that with the flowers striped or blotched with purple; that with the leaves striped or edged with yellow; one with double, and one with pendulous flowers. The double flowers are less fragrant than the single; and the common kind is generally held in higher estimation than any of the others.

This Lily may easily be increased by offsets, which the bulbs furnish in great plenty. They should be taken off

every second year. The best time to remove it is about the end of August, soon after the stalks decay. It will thrive in almost any soil or situation, is very hardy, and not liable to injury by frost. Few plants are more easily increased or preserved than the Lily, so remarkable for the beauty and fragrance of its flowers.

The bulbs, when removed, may be treated as other bulbs; but the sooner these are re-planted the better, as they do not keep so well out of the ground as many others.

This Lily is considered as an emblem of purity and elegance; and

"The lady lily, looking gently down,"

is scarcely less a favourite with the poets than the rose itself:

"The lily, of all children of the spring
The palest-fairest too where fair ones are.”

BARRY CORNWALL'S FLOOD OF THESSALY.

"Thus passeth yere by yere, and day by day,
Till it felle ones in a morwe of May,
That Emelie, that fayrer was to seene
Than is the lilie upon his stalke greene,
And fresher than the May with floures newe,
For with the rose color strof hire hewe;
(I n'ot which was the finer of them two)
Er it was day, as she was wont to do,

She was arisen and all redy dight;

For May will have no slogardie a-night."

CHAUCER.

"In virgin beauty blows

The tender lily languishingly sweet."

ARMSTRONG.

"Hevinlie lyllyis with lokkerand toppis quhyte,
Opynnit and schew thare istis redemyte."

GAWIN DOUGLAS.

"Queen of the field, in milk-white mantle drest,
The lovely lily waved her curling crest."

MODERNISED BY FAWKES.

Catesby's Lily was named in honour of Mr. Catesby, who first found it in South Carolina. It is one of the smallest of the lilies cultivated in this country; the whole plant, when in bloom, being little more than a foot high. The flower is variously shaded with red, orange, and lemon colours, and has no scent. It blows in July and August. This lily does not produce offsets very fast. It must be carefully sheltered from frost, and be kept moderately moist.

The Orange-Lily has a large and brilliant flower, of a glowing flame-colour, figured and dotted with black and fiery red. There are several varieties of this species: one of which, called the Bulb-bearing Fiery Lily, puts out bulbs from the axils of the stalks; which, when the stalks decay, being taken off, and planted, will produce new plants.

The Orange-Lily will thrive in any soil or situation, and is readily increased by offsets. The bulbs should be removed every second year, and planted again before Christmas. It may stand abroad, and should be kept moderately moist.

Of the Martagon Lilies there are several species, and many varieties of each. These are not calculated for pots, but cannot be passed over without notice, since it is one of these Lilies called the Chalcedonian, or Scarlet Martagon, which has been determined to be the poetical hyacinth. (See Hyacinth.) The Red, and Yellow Martagons are commonly known by the name of Turk's-cap Lilies.

LILY OF THE VALLEY.

CONVALLARIA.

SMILACEÆ.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

These flowers are so named from growing in valleys.

Or the Lily of the Valley, called also Lily Convally, and May Lily, and in some country villages, Ladder to Heaven;-in French, le muguet; lis des vallées; muguet de Mai: in the village dialect, gros mouguet: in Italian, il mughetto; giglio convallio [lily convally]; giglio delle convalli-there are three species: the Sweet-scented, the Grass-leaved, and the Spiked. The first is a native of Britain and many other parts of Europe. It flowers in May: whence it has been named by some the May Lily. Gerarde calls it Convall Lily, and says that in some places it is called Liriconfancie. It is also called May-blossom.

"The Lily of the Valley," says Mr. Martyn, " claims our notice both as an ornamental and a medicinal plant.. As an ornamental one, few are held in higher estimation : indeed, few flowers can boast such delicacy, with so much fragrance. When dried they have a narcotic scent, and, reduced to powder, excite sneezing. A beautiful and desirable green colour may be prepared from the leaves. with lime." The distilled water is used in perfumery.

There are several varieties of this species: one with red flowers, one with double red, and one with double white blossoms. There is also a variety much larger than the common sort, and beautifully variegated with purple. It was brought from the Royal Garden at Paris, and flowered several years in the Chelsea Garden: but the roots do not increase so much as the other varieties.

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