CHAPTER XVI. 
See 
CALADIUM ESCULENTUM. 
47 ELL known as “ Elephant’s Ear” in all the gardens _ 
** of to-day, and isa truly majestic plant. Its leaves 
_ attain the size of from three to four teet in diameter, and 
is a favorite plant for single specimens on the lawn: If 
freely watered and given a rich deep soil, it will be an 
object of beauty wherever planted. This species is grown 
extensively in the Sandwich Islands for food, and is called 
by the natives Tara, the roots being eaten like potatoes 
and the leaves cooked like spinach. It is propagated by 
offsets from the main root. As soon as frost destroys 
the leaves the plants should be taken up and exposed to 
the sun to dry. As soon as all the leaf stalks fall away 
from the bulb, they may be stored away in a cellar or 
dry place until Spring. 
GLOXINIA. 
ANHE Gloxinia has now become a very numerous and 
= popular flower. We have hybrid varieties with pen- 
dulous flowers, with erect flowers, and with semi-double 
flowers, and of almost every shade of color. Any one 
may, however, obtain handsome fresh varieties by pur- 
chasing a packet of seed from some good strain, and sow- 
ing it in some fine soil, and placing it in heat. The cul- 
ture of the Gloxinia is very simple, and like the 
Achimenes, it especially recommends itself to those who 
