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The Chinese Sacred Lily
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The men who force the bulbs for the market are usually farmers or others whose work is slack during the appropriate season. The routine is a very exacting one and little time is left for other duties during the forcing period, Many bulbs are forced by individual flower lovers and artists for their own enjoyment or for exhibit. The Chinese Sacred Lily usually contributes its share to the charm of the exhibits of table plants arranged each Spring at the Luk Yung Temple in Canton by these amateur flower fanciers Plate 29.
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Figure 1. Sketch showing the incision made at the apex of the bulb at the initiation of the Drawn forcing process.
The other side of the bulb is cut in the same manner. by Mr. Chan Hin Yau.
By the end of the eleventh lunar month (December) the tips of the young leaves begin to push forth from the apex of each bulb, even when they are kept dry and in the dark. This gives the cue that the dormant stage is past and another season's growth is beginning. If placed with its roots in water, and kept in the sun the bulb will come into flowering in almost exactly a month. Given plenty of sun during their growth, the flower stalks will be at least as high as the leaves and usually a little higher.
December 1932.
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