358 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



frequently been importuned to tell the 

 secret of their prodigious growth, will 

 here enumerate the facts. I always as- 

 sure my visitors that there is no trick, 

 but it is simply a question of water. 

 For years I have studied this plant from 

 every aspect, until its life history and 

 its wants have become absolutely famil- 

 iar to me. In fact, at one time I had even 

 commenced an elaborate chemical analy- 

 sis of the alkaloids contained in the sap. 

 To begin with, my bulbs or tubers, as 

 they are commonly called in the dried 

 state, such as you buy in the shops, are 

 exceptionally large, frequently measur- 

 ing twenty-two inches in circumference, 

 and they may be from twelve to four- 

 teen inches high. These dry or dormant 

 bulbs are planted in cold frames during 

 the latter part of March or the early 

 part of April, this being regulated en- 

 tirely by climatic conditions. Here they 

 arc allowed to become infused with new 

 life, which they do very promptly, the 

 delicate pink stalks shortly pushing their 

 way through the soil into the sunshine, 

 and the fine rootlets sroinsf downward 



and laterally, radiating in all directions. 

 After remaining here for possibly four 

 or five weeks, or until practically all dan- 

 ger from frost is over, the sprouting 

 bulbs are transplanted to their beds in the 

 open air, the greatest care being exer- 

 cised to avoid as much injury as pos- 

 sible to the delicate rootlets. The whole 

 bulb and about an inch of the green 

 stalk is sunk into the ground, for bv 

 this time the leaves are twelve to fifteen 

 inches high. 



Xow for the secret, if such it may 

 be called. The whole question is one oi 

 water. Caladiums revel in an abundance 

 of water ; at the same time they do not 

 relish a superabundance, for they are 

 not true aquatics. If the weather is ex- 

 tremelv hot, they are watered four or 

 possibly five times in the course of the 

 day ; if but moderately hot, twice may 

 suffice. The beds in which they are 

 planted are edged with a row of brick, 

 in such fashion that the bricks extend 

 above the ground about an inch and a 

 half; in this way the water as it runs 

 from the hose, can not run right oft* the 



A CALADIUM LEAF. 

 Compared in size with a man's hat. 



