413 LtOb U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 120. B. T. GALLOWAY, Chirf of Bureau. THE PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS IN THE UNITED STATES. GEORGE W. OLIVER, Plant Propagator, Bureau of Plant Industry. Issued January 10, 1908. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1908. Wonegnwh Book ^ Lrj O3 i U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 120. B. T. GALLOWAY, Chief oj Bureau. THE PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS IN THE UNITED STATES. GEORGE W. OLIVER, Plant Propagator, Bureau of Plant Industry. Issued January 10, 1908. WASHINGTON: government printing office. 1908. ^/T; n 1^ 55 4 BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. Pathologist and Physioloyist, and Chief of Bureau, Beverly T. Galloway. Patholoc/ist and Phijsiologist, and Assistant Chief of Bureau, Albert F. Woods. Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Erwin F. Smith, Patholosist in Charge. Investigations of Diseases of Fruits, Merton B. Waite, Pathologist in Charge. Laboratory of Forest Pathology , Haven Metcalf, I'athologist in Charge. Plant Life History Investigations. Walter T. Swingle, Physiologist in Charge. Cotton and Tobacco Breeding Investigations, Archibald D. Shamel, Physiologist in Charge. Corn Investigations, Charles P. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Breeding Investigations, Thomas H. Kearney. Phys- iologist in Charge. iS'oi'? Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations, Karl F. Kellerman, Physiologist in Charge. Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants, Orator F. Cook, Bionomist in Charge. Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations and Tea Culture Investigations, Rodney H. True, Physiologist in Charge. Physical Laboratory, Lyman .1. Briggs, Physicist in Charge. Crop Technology Investigations, Nathan A. Cobb, Expert in Charge. Taxononiic Investigations, Frederick V. Coville, Botanist in Charge. Farm Management Investigations, William .J. Spillman, Agriculturist in Charge. harrisii d. grown at Santa Ana, Cal. twelve months after planting the seedlings the price offered by retail florists for the blooms was a temptation which few could resist. One florist cleared $250 in the spring of 1907 for flowers from seedlings on a space 25 by 45 feet, and this was only for the flowers he did not want for seed. The removal of flowers and stems, of course, results in bulbs of an inferior grade. Those florists who have grown the seedlings for the bulbs alone are more than pleased with the results. This has been done in the vicinity of Santa Ana, where the soil and climatic conditions are evidently very favorable. Many of the bulbs harvested were of the 7 to 9 inch grade. Figure 2 shows two 2-year-old bulbs measuring nearly 11 inches in circumference, while figure 3 illustrates a bulb which in 120 12 PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. three years from seed measured 14^ inches in circumference when harvested, grown at Santa Ana, Cal., by Mr. Edgar A. Metcalf. The bulbs secured from these sources force well, and being almost free from disease the loss on this account is small. At Ventura, Cal., the conditions are extremely favorable for the l^roduction of strong, healthy growth, but the bulb mite put an end to the experiment in that section the second year. It should be men- - bO Jlk J^HH^^^^ -1 04 (M { "~V-4^ ^^L 1 " ^ }/ o ^-^iT Fig. 3. — Bulb ot Lilium longiflorum r/igantcum $ X L. ?. harrisii -T , three years from seed, weighing 434 grams and measuring 14| inches in circumference when harvested, grown at Santa Ana, Cal. (Two-thirds natural size.) tioned, however, that the soil in which the bidbs were planted had been used for calla lilies for .several years. At Longbeach, Cal., the groAvth made by the seedlings before plant- ing out was very favorable, and probably a little distance from the shore in good soils the lilies would thrive well. At Yuma, Ariz., the growth made from mature bulbs planted for seeding promises well,, and it is probable that the bulbs can be grown there to mature quite as early as those from the Bermudas. In the extreme southern part of Texas the possibility of producing good bulbs would seem very encouraging, but the facilities for testing 120 THE BEST VARIETIES TO GROW, IS have been anything but satisfactory. The farmers are men who grovv^ crops on a hirge scale as a rule and a few hundred lilies are apt to receive but scant attention at critical periods, especially when staple crops are being attended to. At Brownsville, Tex,, one can see in the old Spanish gardens very healthy longiflorums in bloom during the first half of April. The growth is very strong and absolutely free from even a trace of disease. On January 15, 1907, some bulbs of the harrisii variety planted near Brownsville had made a strong growth, averaging 7 inches in height. These bloomed about the end of March and seeded fairly well. Unfortunately, the temperature in the southeastern part of Texas is not very favorable, judging from the records supplied by the Weather Bureau. Some years the crop will turn out satisfactorily, but there always exists a danger of low temperatures, on account of which it would be unsafe to attempt cultivation on a large scale. THE BEST VARIETIES TO GROW. During the past three seasons in California the best success has been with seedlings which were obtained by crossing the red-stemmed Lilium longiforum gigantemn with Liliiim longiforvm harrisii. (See PI. I, and PL IV, fig. 1.) The progeny is remarkably strong and in some localities totally free from disease. In the open fields they come into flower about a week later than the true hairisii. These seedling lilies of the parentage mentioned are composed of four distinct types: Long-leafed and short-leafed green-stemmed plants, and long-leafed and short-leafed red-stemmed plants. All show a remarkable freedom of bloom. Mr. Fred. Rafferty, of Santa Ana, Cal., bloomed a large number of them in the spring of 1907. Although the seedlings were only about 3 inches high when planted out in June, 1906, some of them had 28 flowers to a single stem in June, 1907. This lot of seedlings is shown in Plates I and 11. Two years ago at Ventura, Mr. S. Cole had some 2-year-old seedlings of the same cross, one of which had thirty-five flowers to a stalk. This plant is shown in Plate IV, figure 1. On the farm of the Santa Ana Easter Lily Company during May, 1907, hundreds of plants had twenty or more flowers to a stem. The only well-known variety which has been tried by the Depart- ment in California and Arizona is the harrisii variety from bulbs imported from Bermuda in 190G. These bulbs were planted in order to produce seed after being artificially pollinated. All of the stock grown turned out to be more or less diseased and most of the plants, although grown from good-sized bulbs, produced very poor flowers and a very low yield of seeds. A small lot of this variety grown from seed has turned out fairly well, but by this method of increase there are several distinct types, showing that it can not be 120 14 PKODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. depended upon to produce plants true to the original type. It would seem, however, that many reliable growers in the East think there does not exist the same necessity for the harrisii variety as an early forcer as there was a few years ago when cold-storage bulbs were com- paratively unknown for early forcing. If this is true, then there is but little need for haste in getting the harrisii variety into the Ameri- can market, when in reality the bulbs should still be ripening in the fields. If the greenhouse men could use only the cold-storage supply for the production of flowers during tlie early part of the year, the fresh bulbs would then get an opportunity to ripen thoroughly before being taken from the ground. It would seem advisable to grow types from seed alone and propagate these for one or two seasons asexu- ally, but only from bulbs and not by the scale method, using seeds instead of scales to increase the supply of bulbs. But when we have types which come absolutely true from seed there will be little like- lihood of a necessity arising for saving even the smaller bulbs for replanting. ADVANTAGES OF SEEDLINGS OVER PLANTS PRODUCED BY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION. The seedling method of propagation not only has its advantages in so far as the elimination of disease is concerned, but it is also a much quicker method than propagation from scales or even from small bulbs. The seedlings one year after planting very often show as many as twenty flowers to the stalk. During the past season (1907), as already stated, Mr. Fred. Rafferty, of Santa Ana, Cal., had seed- lings with twenty-eight flowers. Such plants can be depended on to give bulbs of salable size the first year. Comparatively few of the 9 to 11 inch size are produced. The usual sizes are from 5 to 7 inches, but a considerable percentage of the 7 to 9 inch size is found in lots which have received good attention. The crop is ready for harvesting by the beginning of August. The smaller bulbs when replanted soon after being harvested grow much better than imported material. THE SELECTION OF SEED BEARERS. The seedlings noAv growing in California are j^rincipally crosses between the harrisii variety and the dark-stemmed variety of longi- florum known as glganteum' others are straight harrisii seedlings. The crosses are exceedingly vigorous and the harrisii plants are also more vigorous than the parents, but less vigorous than the crosses. The plants selected for bearing seed were apparently free from the disease, which manifests itself in spotted leaves, dwarfed growth, and distorted flowers. In selecting ground for planting seed bearers it should be so arranged that lilies will not be grown on it for at least three years afterwards. 120 BEDS VERSUS ROWS. 15 THE SELECTION OF SEEDLING TYPES FOR PROPAGATION. The variations among the second generation seedling plants are easily recognizable. A batch of seedlings has usually four distinct kinds: Dark-stemmed (1) long-leafed and (2) short-leafed, and green-stemmed (3) long-leafed and (4) short-leafed. Three of these kinds are marked by tying on pieces of raffia, twine, and strips of rags, respectively, while the fourth series of plants remains un- marked. One kind is lifted at a time and kept separate for future propagation by division only, as it is scarcely worth while to employ the tedious method of scale propagation. THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. The preparation of the soil in the field should be attended to much in advance of the time the seedlings are ready to be planted out. If after a very heavy manuring a crop of potatoes or cabbage be taken from the gi'ound, it will be in good order for the reception of the seedlings. In well-compacted soils a heavy crop of cowpeas or other legume deeply plowed under the previous summer should bring about good results. Immediately before planting, the soil should be worked by disking, rolling, and harrowing to make it smooth and easy to manipulate when putting in the seedlings. BEDS VERSUS ROWS. The question of growing the seedlings in prepared beds or in rows at equal distances apart in the field is important. The bed system requires hand work, while cultivation in rows 2 to 3 feet apart can be done with a horse machine. The beds have the following advantages; When the lilies are planted moderately close together, the foliage partly shades the ground and the lilies protect each other so that they are not likely to be whipped about by the wind; moreover, by the bed system more bulbs can be grown to the acre than in rows wide apart. The foliage of bed-grown plants is unquestionably of a deeper green than that of plants grown in rows. In irrigating, the sunken spaces or alleys separating the beds can be used to convey the water. In Bermuda the lilies are all grown in narrow beds and no^ irrigation is practicable, much to the detriment of the crop at times. Growing lilies in beds with hand cultivation is necessarily more expensive than in rows wide apart with horse cultivation, but it is likely to be found that the additional expense attending bed culture will be more than warranted by the returns, as this crop must not be viewed in the same manner as the ordinary field crops M^hich yield $20, $40, or $100 to the acre. It is considered in Bermuda that an acre of lilies is not much of a success unless it yields from $1,000 to $2,000. 120 16 PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. SIZE OF SEEDLINGS AT TIME OF PLANTING. The seedlings at planting time are necessarily very small, having only a few very short and narrow leaves — in fact, they seem anything but promising — and to one who has not had experience in this line of work the appearance of the seedling plants would very naturally tend to discouragement. The rows in the bed should be about 8 inches apart, and the plants at least 5 inches. If the soil is loose and easily worked, they can be put in by hand; otherwise a short trow^el is the handiest tool. Care should be taken not to have the seedling bed too wet at the time of transplanting, as this has a tendency to make the plants flabby. Water should be given as soon as they are put in the ground. THE POLLINATION OF THE FLOWERS. To insure the production of seed, the flowers must be artificially pollinated, as capsules are rarely formed without this operation. (PI. IV, fig. 2.) The pollen is not scattered by wind to any extent and insects evidently visit the flowers without accomplishing a satis- factory transfer of pollen from the stamen to the stigmas; therefore recourse must be had to hand pollination. This consists in taking three or four stamens between the thumb and forefinger and rubbing the anthers, which are copiously supplied with pollen, against the viscid surface of the stigmas. It is best to transfer the pollen from the flowers of one plant to those of another, as the flowers then set seed better than when the pollen of one flower is transferred to the stigma of the same flower or to other flowers on the same plant. The best time to select pollen is when the anthers have shrunk con- siderably and the pollen adheres to them in great masses. This should be applied to the stigmas shortly after the segments of the flowers open; the stigmatic surface will then be covered with a viscid sub- stance which enables the pollen to adhere very easily. After pollinat- ing the flowers on outdoor-grown plants it is advisable to cover them with paper bags. This is not necessary with plants grown in the greenhouse. AVlien the flower is ready for pollen it usually occupies a horizontal position, and wdien the pollen has performed its mission the capsule gradually assumes an uj^right position (PI. IV, fig. 2), indicating that fertilization of the ovules has taken place. Not more than four capsules should be allowed to mature on one plant, as the production of seed seems to be a considerable drain on its resources. The time required to ripen seed outdoors varies with the climatic conditions. In a greenhouse the seed ripens in about two months after 120 SOWING THE SEED, 17 fertilization is effected. Those plants which set seed do not go to rest at the same period as those without seed capsules, but remain fresh and green for several weeks after the others have matured. The ripening of the seed is indicated by the capsules turning from green to a light brownish color and splitting open at the top. They should then be gathered into a bag or box and spread out to dry. IVlien dry the seeds should be removed from the capsules and stored in a cool, dry place until sown. The plants selected for seed bearers should not be subjected to checks during the growing period. "Water should be given when necessary and the ground cultivated as soon as possible afterwards. A mulch of very old stable litter helps to keep the soil cool and moist. Observance of these details will give the best seed-producing conditions; otherwise the capsules will not fill satisfactorily. SOWING THE SEED. The seed should be sown as soon as ripe, which is usually about the latter part of August or the beginning of September, in a place where close attention can be given to shading, ventilating, and Avatering. The method which has given most satisfaction in Cali- fornia is to sow the seed in well-prej^ared ground covered with a cloth house. (PI. Ill, figs. 1 and 2.) This is easily and cheaply constructed, as a glance at the accompanying illustrations will show. The roof should be high enough from the ground to provide plenty of space for a person to move around without stooping. The soil should be about 6 inches deep, on top of about 8 inches of stable manure. The bed should be raised above the surface of the ground 3 or 4 inches and edged with narrow boards a few inches above the paths ; these will keep the soil in position and give a neat appearance. The soil should consist of sandy loam mixed with screenings of dried horse manure, not for the purpose of enriching the soil, but to make it porous and easily worked. Fresh manure is injurious to the young plants. Make the surface of the beds level with a garden rake, sow the seed thinly, and press down with a piece of board. The seeds should then be covered with one-half inch of soil and cocoanut fiber in equal parts; ground redwood bark will answer the purpose quite as well, the idea being to keep the surface porous. Water should be given through a fine sprinkler whenever the soil shows indications of becoming dry. The seeds should germinate in from three to six weeks. In April, or as soon as the Aveather will permit, the cloth may be removed gradually in order to harden off the young plants previous to planting out. The seeds may also be 120 18 PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. sown in a frame built and covered so as to exclude sunshine and heavy rains Avhile termination takes place; and while the plants are small care should be taken not to have the seed beds too wet at the planting-out period, as in this condition the seedlings are more easily wilted than otherwise when put in the field. PRICKING OFF THE SEEDLINGS. It is a question Avhether or not it pays to prick off the seedlings previous to planting in the open field. Judging from the behavior of most other crops so treated, one would suppose that it would be the best practice. Those of the seedlings which were pricked off the past season undoubtedly showed stronger growth than those left in the seed beds till planting-out time, but it is claimed the operation does not show any beneficial effects on the plants a few weeks after being in the field. At any rate, there is much to be gained in thinning out the seedlings and pricking them off when they come up too thickly in the seed bed. TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE BERMUDAS. For purposes of comparison with localities in the Ignited States, the following table, showing the ranges of temperature and the pre- cipitation at Prospect, Bermuda, for each month of the years 1900 to 1904, inclusive, will be of interest : Table I. — Tcnipcratuir and jHTcipitatioii at J'rofiprct. Bermuda, from 1900 to 190',." TEMPERATURE. Year. lonn/Mlaximum ^^""1 Minimum, mm (Miiximum ^■""^l Minimum. iQ^.^fMaximum ^^""tMinimum. .QnQjMi^ximum ^^"''t Minimum. ,q„,/Maximum ^^ \Minimum. 73.4 53.0 71.8 49.2 71.6 49.2 74.8 54.2 73.4 46.2 73.4 50.6 70.4 46.8 72.0 48.0 74.2 51.0 73.2 45.6 ^ a s 5" CJ a >, be a 0) O a > O s < ^ -^ i-i < CO o S:; 71.8 74.2 78.4 83.0 91.2 89.8 88.6 82.6 78.6 48.6 49.6 56.8 61.8 67.2 68.8 59.2 64.8 59.4 73.0 74.0 83.2 88.0 92.4 93.6 91.0 87.8 74.8 51.4 40.4 58.6 64.0 72.0 73.0 71.4 62.2 53.8 74.2 79.8 81.2 83.6 89.4 90.0 87.4 83.8 78.0 49.0 55.0 59.4 63.0 67.8 67.8 69.2 62.2 62.2 74.0 74.4 76.2 84.0 90.0 90.8 90.0 81.8 77.0 57.0 .57. 2 59.6 61.4 67.4 70.2 70.0 61.6 57.4 7.5.4 77.4 80.6 84.4 86,4 88.0 88.0 83.4 77.0 50.4 53.6 60.0 65.6 68.4 69.0 67.0 64.6 53.6 75.8 53.6 74.0 55.0 7.5.0 54.8 76.0 49.8 74.0 54.0 PRECIPITATION. 1900 1901 . .5.48 9.71 3.18 4.37 4.37 5.17 5.56 8.09 1.44 1.44 8.08 8.55 4.33 4.06 4.06 1.59 7.20 13.31 4.20 4.20 7.47 1.83 2.58 3.98 3.98 5.25 1..54 8.43 3.83 3.83 2.38 2.42 2.13 1.73 1.73 6. 80 ■ 2.27 21.33 3.85 3.85 8.32 1.92 2.04 8. 38 8.38 4.03 10. 52 13.18 9.83 9.83 3.97 7.82 2.08 5.03 6.03 8.21 3.33 1902 6.96 1903 10.58 1904 10. 5S Data supplied by the United States Weather Bureau. 120 TEMPERATURE RECORDS OF THE LILY-GROWING LOCALITIES. 19 The average normal temperature and precipitation at Hamilton, Bermuda, for each month of the years from 1900 to 1904, inclusive, follows : Table II. — Temperature and precipitation at Hamilton, Bermuda, from 1900 to J90.'i, inciusive.°' TEMPERATURE. Years. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1900-1904 62.0 61.5 62.2 63.9 69.4 75.0 78.4 79.6 77.4 73.0 68.7 64.7 rRECIPITATION. 1900-1904 4.94 4.44 5.13 4.18 4.66 5.95 4.44 6.08 6.51 6.71 4.38 4.49 " Data supplied by the United States Weather Bureau. TEMPERATURE RECORDS OF THE LILY-GROWING LOCALITIES OF THE UNITED STATES.^ For^t Brown, Tex. — In the period from November, 1846, to Decem- ber, 1903, at Fort Brown the annual mean was 73° F., the absolute maximum 102° F., and the absolute minimum 12° F. During the period from January, 1894, to December, 1903, with the records for several months missing, the temperature fell below 32° F. on sixty-six occasions. It would seem from these records that this vicinity would be unfavorable for growing the bulbs on a commercial basis. Los Angeles, Cal. — The annual mean at Los Angeles from July, 1877, to December, 1903, is given as 62° F., the absolute maxi- mum 109° F., and the absolute minimum 28° F. In the period from Januar}', 1894, to December, 1903, the temperature fell below 32° F. on five occasions, viz, January 6, 1894; January 21, 1897; January 26 and 27, 1898 ; and December 13, 1901. This record was taken on roofs of the buildings of the Weather Bureau station 60 to 70 feet above the ground. Xear the surface of the ground the maximum temperature is higher and the minimum considerably lower. However, in the foot- hills near Los Angeles frost is unknown, giving ideal conditions for lily farming. San Diego, Cal. — At San Diego the annual mean temperature in the period from 1850 to 1903 was 61° F., the absolute maximum 101° F., the absolute minimum 32° F. During the period from January 1, 1894, to December 31, 1903, the temperature fell to 32° F. on one occasion — January 7, 1894. Santa BarTjara, Gal. — At Santa Barbara the annual mean tempera- ture in the period from January, 1881, to December, 1903, was 60° F., a Data obtained from Bulletin Q of the United States Weather Bureau. 120 20 PKODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. the absolute maximum 100° F., and the absolute minimum 28° F. During the period from January, 1897, to December, 1903, the tem- jjerature fell below 32° F. on only three occasions — December 20, 1897, February 6, 1899, and February 3, 1903. The foothill region close to Santa Barbara is practically frostless. Here we find specimens of tropical plants such as Anthuriums and Platyceriums growing out of doors all the year round; also large specimens of tropical trees such as the mango, Casimiroa, and avocado. In these places the growth of Easter lilies is continuous through the winter, and the plants flower from one to two weeks earlier than on the level ground nearer the sea. 120 PLATES. 120 21 DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. Plate I. Field of hybrid Easter lily seedlings (Lilium longiflorum giganteum 5> X L. I. harrisii $ ) twelve months after planting, coming into flower. These lilies were grown by Mr. Fred. Rafferty, Santa Ana, Cal., from seed supplied by the Bureau of Plant Industry. Seed sown October, 1905. Planted in the field April 30, 190G. Photographed May 30, 1907. Plate II. The same field shown in Plate I in bloom, after three-fourths of the flowers had been cut. Photographed June 20, 1907. Plate III. Raising Easter lilies at Santa Ana, Cal. Fig. 1. — Cloth house used at Santa Ana, Cal., by Mr. Fred. Rafferty in raising seedling lilies previous to planting in the field. Imported LUhim longiflorum liarrisii plants are seen on the right. Fig. 2. — Interior of cloth house shown in figure 1, containing 100.000 seedling lilies ready for the field. Plate IV. Hybrid Easter lilies. Fig. 1. — Two-year-old hybrid Easter lily plant {Liliuni longiflorum giganteum 9 "XL.!, harrisii $) with 35 flowers, grown at Ventura, Cal., by Mr. S. Cole. Fig. 2. —Capsules and seeds of Lilium longifloniin Iiarrisii X 9 L. longiflorum $ . 120 22 Bui. 120, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Plate I. Bui. 1 20, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Plate II HSF^ ip^^'paHH m f ^Hi^^^Hki^ ^3^^flf i^^^^l \ f- ^H^V ^^|^i|«^m^^H f** B^^I^^Ppt^^^B r E||3^ ^.^P 1^ k^ Bpn^iffii r m 9>- P^-,^ ^^^^^^^UsJ/^^K^^Mftf^UF Bui. 120, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Plate III. Fig. 1.— Cloth House Used in Raising Seedlings Previous to Planting in the Field. Fig. 2.-INTERIOR of Cloth House Shown in Figure 1, Containing 100,000 Seed- lings Ready for the Field. RAISING EASTER LILIES AT SANTA ANA, CAL. Bui, 1 20, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. Plate IV. 33 I o < A^ ^M.. ":^ ^Tf^-^ NDHX. Page. Beds versus rows, Easter lily culture 14 Bermuda, aimual imports of Easter lily bulbs 7 couditions unfavorable to production of healthy Easter lily bulbs 7 diseased Easter lily bulbs imported 7 Easter lily culture in narrow beds 14 temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 Brownsville, Tex., growth and early bloom of Easter lily 10-11 Bulbs, annual imports from Bermuda 7 from seedlings, successful growing 9-13 imported, disease prevalent 7 trials in growing in California S most suitable location for growing 9-12 number grown to the acre 7 previous efforts to grow in United States, causes of failure 7-S second year's crop, value 7 seedlings one year old, sizes 13 Byrnes, E. M., experiments with crossed plants S California, attempts to grow imported Easter lily bulbs i 8 experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9-10 temperature records, lsr)0-1903 i IS Calla lily soil, infestation with bulb mites in California 10 Cloth house for Easter lily seed beds, description 16 Cold-storage bulbs, use for early blooms 12 Disease in imported Easter lily bulbs 7 Fertilizer, use of stable manure on Easter lily seed beds 16 Florida, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9 Flowers of Easter lily, pollination 15-16 Fort Brown, Tex., temperature records, 1846-1903 18 Hamilton, Bermuda, temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 Key West, Fla., temperature and precipitation 9 Lilium longiflorum, description of development from seed 11 gigauteum crossed with Lilium 1. harrisii, results 12 harrisii crossed with Lilium longiflorum gigauteum. results 12 seedlings, characteristics : 13 variety, change of type in seedlings 12 Lily, Easter, best varieties to grow_^ : 12 flowers, i)o]lination 15-16 propagation, methods 8 seed bearers, selection 13 ripeness, indications 15 23 lliO 24 INDEX. Litly, Easter, seed, ripening, time required 15 sowing, and care of seed bed 16 Localities most suitable for Easter lily bulb growing 9-12 Longbeach, Cal., favorable conditions for Easter lily growth 10 Loomis, Cal., favorable locality for Easter lily bulb growing 9 Los Angeles, Cal., temperature, i-ecords, 1877-1903 18 Manure, stable, use on Easter lily seed beds 16 Miami, Fla., temperature 9 Mite, bulb, injuries in California 10 Plates, description 22 Pollination of Easter lily flowers, directions 15 Precipitation, Bermuda, 1900-1904 17 Propagation, Easter lily, methods 8 selection of seedling types 13 Prospect, Bermuda, temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 Rainfall. Bermuda, 1900-1904 i--_ 17 Rows versus beds for Easter lily culture 14 San Diego, Cal., temperature records, 1850-1903 18 Santa Ana, Cal., favorable condition for Easter lily growing 10 Easter Lily Company, successful growing from seed 12 Barbara, Cal., temperature records, 1881-1903 18 Seed bearers, selection 13 Easter lily, ripening, time required 15 ripeness, indications 15 sowing, and care of seed bed 16 Seedling types for propagation, selection 13 Seedlings, Easter lily, advantages over plants produced by vegetative prop- agation 13 freedom from disease 8 oneyear old, large number of blooms 12 size of bulbs 13 origin of efforts to grow 8 pricking off 16-17 size at time of planting 14-15 Soil, preparation for Easter lily seedlings 14 Temperature, lowest withstood by Easter lily seedlings 9 records of Bermuda, 1900-1904 17 lily-growing localities in United States 18 Texas, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 10 Fort Brown, temperature records 1846-1903 18 southeastern, temperature unfavorable for growing Easter lily bulbs 12 United States, previous efforts to establish gi'owing of Easter lily bulbs — 7-8 temperature records of lily-growing localities 18 Varieties of Easter lilies most suitable for growing in the United States__ 12-13 Ventura, Cal., ravages of bulb mite 10 Vegetative propagation, advantages of seedlings over plants so produced.. 13 Washington, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9 Woods, Dr. Albert F., investigations of lily disease 8 Yuma, Ariz., favorable conditions for Easter lily growing 10 120 o iEJe'08