432 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE CALLA LILY. 



HE Calla Lily, when properly treated, is a beautiful plant for house- 

 growing. The best method is to procure an earthen jar, suitably 

 decorated on the outside, if desired, by painting or pasting on 

 of flower pictures, or by a paper open-work covering. In this 

 place rich mould, some five or six inches deep, and in this set the 

 calla plant. Now put on the top of this mould a layer of clean, 

 coarse sand, about two inches deep, and on the top of this some 

 small pebbles. Then fill the jar with water, and replace as evaporated, so as 

 always to have the water several inches deep above the pebbles. Place in a 

 warm and sunny window, and the plant will throw up large, luxuriant leaves, to 

 be followed by the magnificent hloom. What is still better, the flower stalks 

 will be sent up in a succession, so as to afford a nearly continuous series of 

 flowers. A few minnows introduced into the water will usually thrive without 

 further care, and will afford a pleasing study. 



Tiverton^ Ont. A. H. Cameron. 



FORCING HYACINTHS IN POTS. 



For pot culture, the bulbs should be planted as soon as received, a single 

 bulb in a five-inch pot, the top of the bulb to be just below the level of the rim 

 of the pot. The soil should be rich, and it matters little whether it is loamy or 

 sandy, for they will thrive in either. Let the soil be as light or as loose as pos- 

 sible under the bulb, in order that the roots shall have no obstructions to their 

 growth. If the soil is hard packed under the bulbs, the roots will lift the bulbs 

 out, and they cannot be replaced without great injury. After potting the bulbs, 

 plunge the pots in any convenient out-of-the-way place, and cover with soil, coal 

 ashes or almost anything that will keep them dark and cool on top. They will 

 get sufficient heat from beneath to perfect root growth, which is essential to 

 their perfect flowering. Over this covering, coarse manure, leaves or boughs 

 should be placed, sufficient to exclude frost, in order that the pots can be taken 

 out without injury as wanted. In this position they should be left until the 

 middle of December, by which time they will have made considerable top- 

 growth. Then bring into the conservatory or living room any desired number 

 of pots, water thoroughly and give them as light a situation as possible, with as 

 low a temperature as the living room will afford, secure however against frost at 

 night. As the plants advance in growth, give them a warmer and sunny situa- 

 tion, and in six weeks from the time they are brought in, their flowers will be 

 fully developed. At this period it is much better to keep them from the sun 

 and as cool as possible, in order to keep them longer in flower The hyacinth 

 is one of the few flowers that can be grown in a room without sun ; they do 

 better with it, but will bloom very well without, and can be selected for windows 

 where other plants will not perfect their flowers.- -C. L. Allen, in Amer. Agr't. 



