The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 1025, August 19, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 1025, August 19, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
_Lilium Alexandræ_, the Japanese “Uki Ure” or “Hill Lily,” is in all
probability a hybrid between _Lilium Auratum_ and _Lilium Longiflorum_.
We say “in all probability,” for we are not quite certain that it is
not a true species.
There are some persons who think that one white lily is much like
another. But put side by side _L. Alexandræ_, _L. Longiflorum_, and _L.
Candidum_. Are they alike? Could anyone mistake one for another? Surely
not! They differ in every detail—even in colour. The long trumpet of
_L. Longiflorum_ is delicate greenish-white. The Madonna lily is like
porcelain; and the hill lily possesses a rich milky hue, somewhat
resembling the colour of _L. Brownii_, which we so much admired.
And in shape how different they are. One is a long and regular trumpet,
another is a shallow cup, and the lily we are specially considering
is widely opened with its segments slightly curved, the whole blossom
resembling a gigantic white star.
_Lilium Alexandræ_ is not a big lily. It grows about two feet high and
bears from one to four blossoms. These blossoms are very large, of a
rich milky white, resembling in shape those of _L. Auratum_. The pollen
is chocolate colour. The fragrance of this lily is very great. On the
evening of a hot day in the middle of August last year we could detect
the scent of a bed of these lilies, then in full bloom, at the distance
of over one hundred yards. Its scent is rich and full, something
between that of jasmine and vanilla.
The culture of this hybrid is not difficult. It is best grown in pots,
for it is very sensitive to rain at its flowering period. In rigorous
districts this lily should be grown in a cool greenhouse, but in the
south of England it will grow to perfection out of doors. The soil
should consist of equal parts of peat, very finely broken, leaf-mould,
and sharp sand. It wants a very large quantity of water.
Few lilies have given us greater pleasure than _L. Alexandræ_. It is
one of those plants which are so striking that it is impossible to
forget them when you have once seen them. It is so very delicate, so
pure and so fragrant.
Doubtless most of our readers are acquainted with the old Nankeen lily.
This is a very old favourite, and is usually thought to be a true
species, but for all that it is almost for certain a hybrid between _L.
Candidum_ and _L. Chalcedoniam_. This plant rejoices in a goodly number
of names, of which _L. Testaceum_, _L. Isabellinum_, and _L. Excelsum_
are the commonest.
This lily is unknown in the wild state, and its origin is very obscure.
It is an English garden hybrid, but who first raised it or possessed it
is unknown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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