THE PLANT WORLD 73 



The Home Garden and Greenhouse. 



Conducted by Dr. F. H. Knowi^ton. 



[The editor of this department will be iilad to answer questions of a rele- 

 vant nature^ and also to receive short articles on any phase of this subject.] 



Orchids. — It seems to be now demonstrated beyond any reasonable 

 doubt that Osmunda roots are the best medium in which to grow orchids, 

 since those who have given leaf-mold, "Jadoo," etc., a full trial have 

 definitely abandoned them. Not that the orchids secure any special 

 nourishment from the Osmunda roots, for such is not the case, but, by 

 being practically indestructible, it prevents clogging and "out-put" 

 which the other substances induce. But the plants, although called air 

 plants, must have some source of food other than the air, and after re- 

 peated experiments it has been shown that the Cookson formula has 

 solved the question. This is as follows: " Three ounces of nitrate of 

 potassium, two ounces of ammonium phosphate, by weight, dissolved in 

 three gallons of water ; then one liquid ounce is used of this solution to 

 each gallon of water applied to the plants." 



Calla Lilies. — The ordinary directions for growing this plant recom- 

 mend, after the blooming season is over, that the pot be turned on its 

 side in the shade and be permitted to dry out during the summer, shaking 

 out the plants and repotting in the fall. The occasional recommenda- 

 tions are to permit the plant to grow on during the summer, placing in a 

 larger pot with such new soil as can be forced around it when it is time 

 to bring the plants inside again. After full trial of both methods, I can 

 only say that my success has been far greater with the latter than with 

 the former. Two years ago I permitted the plants to grow on slowly all 

 through the summer, and the following winter there were blossoms in 

 profusion. Last summer the plants were dried out and repotted last 

 fall, but the blossoms have been conspicuous by their absence. 



You can grow flowers anywhere, if you only know the proper kind for 

 each location, says Country Life m America. There is no portion of the 

 earth's surface that can not be covered by some kind of plant growth, 

 nor a situation so desperate that it could not be redeemed with the life 

 and cheer and color that flowers give. You have only to select the right 

 variety of seed and you will find that there is no clay too tough, no sand 

 too hot and dry, no rocks too devoid of soil, no winter too severe. If you 

 have a swamp and are afraid of it, you can transform it into a water-lily 

 pond or a bog garden. If you own a bit of woods you can fill it 

 with wild flowers. In the heart of the biggest city a ten-inch hole can be 

 made in the pavement, as they do in Boston, to cover the wall of the 

 house with vines. The slums have their window-boxes, and houseleeks 



