THIS lily is a flower of the poets, and its occurrence in our series reminds us of the fact that although the poets have much to say of lilies in general, they have very little to say of lilies in particular. The lily of the valley is a happy exception, for the poets condescend to notice it by name, whereas of the Turk's-cap, the martagon, the pomponium, the ever-welcome common white, and the more than ever-welcome gold-striped lily of Japan, the poets do not say much, and appear as though they would prefer to say nothing at all. What ails them that they can say words enough to clothe a mountain about lilies in general, but nothing about lilies in particular? Keats speaks of this lily as an emblem of purity--

"Valley-lilies, whiter still

Than Leda's love,"

which is very well in its way, but the allusions to the flower are few, and even then not always in the best of taste. Thomson rejoices in the seclusion--

"Where, scatter'd wild, the lily of the vale

Her balmy essence breathes,"

which is commonplace enough; and Prior associates this humble flower with the glories of King Solomon, when he ought to have known that the scarlet martagon lily is the only one that can claim to be the "lily of the field."

The plentifulness of the lily of the valley as a British wilding is not known to the average of holiday botanists, because they do not travel much in the season when it flowers. It is most abundant in woods and glens, from far north to far south, and is mostly a haunter of moist, mild, and shaded places in the western parts of Britain, but is scarcely known as a wilding in Ireland.

As a garden plant it is nowhere seen to such advantage as in half-wild places, where anemones and violets and primroses are scattered without order in a miscellaneous mosaic. Then there are uses for the four or five varieties, and the effect of these in irregular masses is far too delightful to admit of being set down in black and white. The double variety is a little "lumpy," perhaps, but makes a fine button-hole flower. The rosy variety is exquisitely beautiful, but no one knows of its beauty who has not seen it in considerable masses, running hither and thither, mixed with the white. The striped-leaved variety does not flower so freely as the green, but makes amends by its foliage.

The common lily of the valley may be planted anywhere and everywhere with some prospect of a successful result. But the best place for it is in a somewhat damp soil, in a position partially shaded, and being planted, the best way to manage it is to keep it clear of weeds or over-reaching plants, and otherwise leave it alone.

The variegated-leaved lily of the valley is never, or but rarely, seen to advantage in the open ground. To do justice to its exquisite beauty, it should have greenhouse or frame culture. Any light soil will suit its requirements, or say sandy loam and clean leaf-mould, or any mixture that suits the average of greenhouse plants. It is an important matter to plant a number of crowns in suitable pots and pans, and leave them undisturbed for several years. If they have reasonable attention in respect of air, water, and light, being shaded from strong sunshine, and liberally supplied with water in the growing season, they will fill the pans with a lovely growth of leaves, richly striped with alternate bars of pale yellow and vivid green, and the flower-spikes will rise in plenty.

For the supply of winter and early spring flowers the lily of the valley is largely grown; there are varieties known as "Dutch," "German," and "home grown." These differ by points an amateur need not be concerned about, because all are good; but the men who grow them in large quantities for the flower markets are bound to distinguish minute differences, for they influence values, and tell with effect upon the final returns of the season's business. For the mere production of crowns for forcing there is really no necessity to resort to importation, but as the imported lilies are constantly in request, it may be concluded the market growers find it more to their advantage to obtain the crowns ready made than to be at the trouble of producing them. The reader of this may, however, be well supplied with stock for the forcing pit by dividing and planting a sufficient number every year, and a generous soil should be selected for the business as large well-ripened crowns are required.