LILIUM AURATUM. THANKS are due to our noble line of steamers plying between San Francisco and Japan that this magnificent floral production can now be had at prices low enough to place it within the reach of all. A few lines respecting our unsuccessful as well as our successful mode of culture may be of interest to some of your readers. A large proportion of the first importations both to Europe and our own country, owing to improper packing, were a total loss; while those which showed signs of life were so much enfeebled by their long voyage, that a wellgrown specimen was rarely to be found. Many bulbs which appeared quite sound when planted, would, after attaining a few inches in height, dwindle away, there not being vitality enough to sustain their rapid growth. Those who succeeded in growing them were amply repaid for their trouble; and we often see accounts in English papers of the large size to which the bulbs have attained, rewarding their enthusiastic cultivator by throwing up their vigorous shoots, several in number, from four to eight feet in height, bearing immense clusters of from fifty to a hundred flowers, measuring from ten to fourteen inches in diameter, filling the air with their delicious fragrance, and drawing crowds of admirers for miles to witness the beautiful sight. We were among the first importers in this country; having received a number from England the first year it was offered, and, subsequently, a much larger lot from Japan direct. Like many others who think that too much attention cannot be bestowed upon a rare plant, we determined to give it the best possible treatment. We prepared our compost with the choicest material at our command; using peat, leaf-mould, well-decomposed manure, silver sand, decayed turf, and loam, mixing with the greatest care. Our bulbs were carefully looked over (the decayed portions removed with a sharp knife), potted, and placed in a cool, shady part of the greenhouse, watered sparingly, and watched daily. Some commenced growth in two or three weeks, others from six to eight weeks, and many gradually decayed. Some grew vigorously, and soon showed their flower-buds; when, of a sudden, the lower leaves commenced to turn brown, one by one dropped, and finally the bud shared the same fate. Not more than one-half matured their bulbs. Upon examination of the diseased bulbs, a species of wire-worm was found embedded, which, no doubt, caused their death to a certain extent. Their enfeebled state was probably the cause of their presence, as we have rarely found them in a perfectly sound bulb. Wishing to test their hardi ness, we planted a lot in the open ground, using a compost similar to that described for potting. They were planted late in spring: most of them grew vigorously, and flowered. Upon the approach of frost, they were lightly covered with leaves; but, as the weather grew cooler, more leaves, to the depth of about four inches, were placed over them, and the whole covered with evergreen-branches. This covering was removed as soon as the frost was out of the ground. Many which remained dormant the first season now pushed up vigorous shoots; but they shared a similar fate to those in pots, with the exception that those which did bloom gave from four to ten well-formed flowers, and were more vigorous in growth than those cultivated in pots. Upon examination of the diseased roots, the wire-worm was at work the same as upon those in pots. At the time of planting, we furnished a friend in a neighboring town with several bulbs, who planted them in a mixed border with other flowers, without any preparation. His soil was a reddish, friable loam, with a gravelly subsoil, and had not been manured for two years. The result was, his bulbs all lived, made vigorous growth, bloomed profusely, gradually matured, and, when taken up in the fall, were found to have trebled in size, besides forming numerous offsets; while those planted in the carefully prepared bed above alluded to had increased but little in size, and showed a strong tendency to divide up into small bulbs. Last spring we received another lot from Japan, which were shipped, through mistake, by a sailing-vessel, and were from four to five months on the voyage. They were in very fair order, though considerably shrivelled by being so long out of the ground. The success of our friend induced us to adopt his mode of culture. The bulbs were planted in common garden-soil, where dahlias had been grown the previous year, without any additional manure. The result was a fine, healthy growth; a profusion of flowers and, upon examination this fall, we find the bulbs much increased in size, well matured, with no signs of disease or the wire-worm; presenting a favorable contrast to the above-mentioned bed, which had been so carefully treated. We were of the opinion, and subsequent experiments have proved, that our bulbs were killed by kindness. They do not require a rich soil, and will grow in any common garden-soil where the tiger-lily will grow. To those who intend planting we would say, Select an open spot in your flower-border fully exposed to the sun, where water does not stand in winter. If the soil is poor, enrich with a small quantity only of thoroughly-de composed stable-manure (the older the better), which must be incorporated with the soil. Should the weather be dry when about to bloom, give plenty of water, and mulch with a little cut straw: this will prolong the bloom, and increase the size of the bulbs. Cover in winter with straw or evergreen-branches; uncover in spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground. For pot-culture, take common garden-soil that will grow good potatoes; give the pot plenty of drainage; barely cover the bulb; place in a cool, shady part of the greenhouse, or in a cellar; water very sparingly with a fine rose. When it commences to grow, place it near the light; give it plenty of air; water plentifully when coming into flower. After it is done. blooming, plunge the pot to the rim in the open ground, where the bulb will gradually ripen until quite dry; place the pot in a cool, dry cellar, on its side, where it may remain until it shows signs of growth; repot in fresh soil; use great care in handling the fibrous portions of the root so as not to bruise them; and proceed as at first. Faponicus. THE ROGERS'S HYBRIDS. PERHAPS no person in the country has devoted more time to the production of seedling-grapes, and no one, certainly, has been more successful, than Mr. Rogers. Many grape-growers had repeatedly declared that there was no such thing as a hybrid between the foreign and native sorts; but they were compelled to acknowledge, when the Rogers's Hybrids made their appearance, that the thing had been done. There are those who still claim that the superiority of these seedlings over the wild grape is only accidental, and that there is no foreign blood in them. The fruit speaks for itself, and one has only to see and taste to be convinced that they are true hybrids. Whether all or any of them are adapted to general cultivation in the North, is still a matter of doubt. Possibly Nos. 3, 4, 9, 15, 19, 41, and 43, may prove valuable. Certain it is, that West and South, where the seasons are long, and warm enough to fully mature the grape, the varieties named, with others originated by the same skilful hand, will prove of great value. We know of no variety of grape grown out of doors that |