Changes

For many years, L. aurea has been cultivated in American gardens, although it is not a common plant. More recently, with large importations of L. radiata, the interest in the genus has widened. These species have the handsomer flowers, and are preferably cultivated under glass, although the bulbs are probably hardy in warm protected borders; at least they have more than once been frozen in pots at Elizabeth, New Jersey, without apparent harm. In its habitat in China, L. aurea rests in the wet season, and the most success in culture has been found in growing it in a warmhouse, taking care to cultivate the foliage and rest the bulbs in warmth and moist earth. The same general directions may be followed for L. radiata. As with all bulbs, a vigorous growth of foliage is essential to the future appearance of flowers. L. squamigera amd L. sanguinea are perfectly hardy; their leaves appear in March, mature and disappear. The flowers come in the nature of a surprise in August. The former species has a columnar scape 2 to 3 feet tall and a cluster of large, amaryllis-like flowers, of a bright rosy purple, rather attractive in the back row of a garden, but not of first rank. L. sanguinea has a scape 1 ½ to 2 feet, with small orange-red flowers, dull and curious rather than striking. The two former species have the beauty of the nerines, but the two latter have none of this resemblance.

For many years, L. aurea has been cultivated in American gardens, although it is not a common plant. More recently, with large importations of L. radiata, the interest in the genus has widened. These species have the handsomer flowers, and are preferably cultivated under glass, although the bulbs are probably hardy in warm protected borders; at least they have more than once been frozen in pots at Elizabeth, New Jersey, without apparent harm. In its habitat in China, L. aurea rests in the wet season, and the most success in culture has been found in growing it in a warmhouse, taking care to cultivate the foliage and rest the bulbs in warmth and moist earth. The same general directions may be followed for L. radiata. As with all bulbs, a vigorous growth of foliage is essential to the future appearance of flowers. L. squamigera amd L. sanguinea are perfectly hardy; their leaves appear in March, mature and disappear. The flowers come in the nature of a surprise in August. The former species has a columnar scape 2 to 3 feet tall and a cluster of large, amaryllis-like flowers, of a bright rosy purple, rather attractive in the back row of a garden, but not of first rank. L. sanguinea has a scape 1 ½ to 2 feet, with small orange-red flowers, dull and curious rather than striking. The two former species have the beauty of the nerines, but the two latter have none of this resemblance.

}}

}}