74 



TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[March, 



■with numbers of other species, were equally 

 happy and vigorous on the mountain sides, be- 

 neath shady, broad-leaved forest trees, near the 

 sea-beach, in the snow-white sand, and in boggj' 

 hollows. With such a variety of soils and con- 

 ditions, they flourished, as if to show the different 

 ways " Dame Nature " had of doing things. 



Returning to the Calla question. However 

 much cultivators may differ about the right 

 method of treating them, they all agree that 

 plenty of old rotten cow manure is a pabulum they 

 most delight in. Soot-water is also an excellent 

 stimulant ; in fact, is one of the best for pot plants 

 generally. For vegetables it is equal to guano — 

 especially for onions, celery, cabbage, turnips, as- 

 paragus, &c. As a fertilizer, to sow on the lawn, 

 or green pastures, I have used it with good re- 

 sults for many years. 



If the heart's Utopia is among Callas, why, in 

 the name of all things flowery, let the good folks 

 enjoy it. Certainly the joys of floriculture, either 

 in this or any other land, are equal to any other 

 pleasures, and far surpass most of the trivial 

 ones which tempt us to follow. Yet, the cold- 

 blooded cynic may live unmindful of the Creator's 

 goodness in stz'ewing flowers along the waysides, 

 wliich he refuses to see or appreciate. He may 

 pass through the forest, cheery with the hum of 

 insect life, and merry with the music of birds, 

 without hearing them, or knowing there are 

 glorious old trees around and above him. He 

 may be in the midst of fields bearing the bending 

 golden grain, without heed or pleasure. But, he 

 is not " one of us"; being utterly incapable of 

 feeling, he does not know the world is full of 

 beauty when the heart is full of love. 



Boston is as famous for Callas as it is for Lilies, 

 Violets, Tuberoses, Pinks, and Roses; and Mr. 

 W. C. Strong was much noted for successfully 

 cultivating the same. Callas were a specialty, 

 and were grown in immense quantities, both in 

 pots and in the borders of his mammoth green- 

 houses, to the profit and jjleasure of the worthy 

 proprietor. 



MYRSIPHYLLUM ASPARAGOlDES. 



BY F. R. FITHIAN, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



This beautiful plant, commonly known as 

 Smilax, is from the Cape of Good Hope; the 

 word Myrsiphyllum means myrtle-leaved. It is 

 now used in the cities for decorating, and as 



greens for bouquetvS, to such an extent that there 

 is a great demand for it by our city florists. It is 

 very easily cultivated, the seed being so'wti in 

 boxes of light but rich soil in August and placed 

 in a close and shaded greenhouse. I saw at one 

 time seed sown in two boxes, one box being 

 placed in a close house, the seed in it germinating 

 very well ; the other box was put in a hot-bed, 

 tlie heat being 95° ; there it remained for eight 

 weeks, only five or six seeds germinating; sup- 

 posing the balance of the seed had decayed, the 

 box was taken out of the hot-bed and placed 

 with the first box — in less than a week every seed 

 germinated, and grew at a rapid rate, soon out- 

 stripping the first box. AVlien large enough 

 they should at once be 'potted off" in two-inch 

 pots and placed in a warm house, and kept 

 growing until early spring, when they want a 

 rest, for, it must be remembered, they belong to 

 the Lily family ; after gradually drying them 

 out, place under the bench, turning the pots on 

 their sides. The first of August they will begin 

 to show life by throwing up long slender shoots, 

 of a light purple color, and looking somewhat 

 like asparagus. They are now just one year old, 

 and want planting out or potting; if they are de- 

 sired for " cut flowers," by all means plant them 

 out, they are tremendous feeders, want plenty of 

 room and plenty of water to bring them to per- 

 fection. Plant in soil composed of two parts 

 rich manure, two parts good loam, one part old 

 sods, and one part sand ; give plenty of water, never 

 allowing them to become dry; their two great- 

 est enemies are drought and red spider, either 

 of which causes them to drop their leaves, and then 

 they are worthless for cut flowers. Each plant 

 will throw up six or eight shoots, and will want 

 strings to hold them up; twine three or four 

 shoots to one string, and when they have grown 

 to the height of five or six feet they are ready for 

 market, each string being worth at wholesale 

 about twenty-five cents. After they are all cut, dry 

 off" gradually, and give a sliglit top-dressing of 

 fine but strong manure. Each following year 

 they will increase in value, throwing up more 

 and stronger shoots. While growing, they should 

 be often syringed, and occasionally watered with 

 liquid manure, after being diluted. The second 

 winter from seed they will flower and produce 

 seed. The flowers are greenish white and very 

 fragrant, though small. The berry grows to the 

 size of an English pea, and when ripe — in Aug^Jst 

 — is a light red color, containing three or four 

 seeds, which are hard and black. 



