15 DECEMBER 1939, Page 17

Christmas Lilies

After visiting St. Helena a year or two back, I wrote with some enthusiasm of the St. Helena Lily, from which the very poor inhabitants of that pleasant island hoped to earn a little money. A good many people bought bulbs ; and they have grown into flowers of singular beauty. This lily (Langi- forum) is one of the few that flowers late in the year ; and this year some will be in natural blossom, unforced and unretarded, on Christmas Day. The boughs of purple beech- leaves (preserved by a solution of glycerine) are not yet brought forth, so fine in blossom are late autumn flowers. Out-of-door chrysanthemums were still large and fresh on the eve of the first serious frost, postponed till December 7th.

W. BEACH THOMAS.