CALLAS, CANNAS, AND CROCUS 195 



the outer skin cracks open. They germinate in from ten to fifteen 

 days, and may be even longer in starting. Many persons fail with 

 seeds, probably from want of thoroughly soaking to soften the hard 

 shell. Instead of soaking, one can file down a spot in the shell or 

 cut carefully with a knife to admit moisture to the germ within. 



Crocus. It probably needs a patient professional gardener or an 

 amateur who has much of the poetic temperament to get much joy 

 out of crocuses. They have to be handled just right to get a good 

 start, followed by good luck to get the bloom out of pounding rain 

 drops or splashing mud, which disfigure them. Some have held that 

 the crocus thrives better in colder climates, for the reason that in cold 

 climates roots are developed before new growth is made, while in a 

 mild climate like ours the bulb will start its upward growth before 

 sufficient roots are developed to maintain the growth. Add to this 

 the fact that the crocus bulbs are often poor, and that they are planted 

 too late, and it is not surprising that they give little satisfaction. But 

 one can get good crocuses by planting in October, good round bulbs 

 in boxes, and keep them out of doors in a cool place, and in February 

 one will get a mass of well-developed flowers. As a border plant for 

 early flowering they can be handled by mulching to keep the low 

 flowers from mud-splashing and to hold the little bulb in moist surface 

 soil, if there are no rains. One can do such things or he can put the 

 bulbs in the grass plot and let them do as they like in a poetic way. 



Cyclamen. Although almost exclusively a pot plant and very 

 delightful as such, cyclamen persicum can be handled in favorable 

 places in the open air, and as we do not oare to mention only easy 

 things, we note the fact for the ambitious amateur. Cyclamen persi- 

 cum is one of the sweetest flowering bulbs under cultivation, and if 

 properly treated will not only flower early, but will keep in bloom all 

 winter. They are quite fragrant and vary in color from pure white 

 to a dark purple. If grown in pots choose a rather heavy loam with 

 good drainage. They like a cool atmosphere and must be kept clean 

 from insects. They should be planted in pots so that about one-third 

 of the bulb stands above ground, but in the open must be lightly 

 covered and mulched. The variety known as Cyclamen persicum 

 giganteum is by far the best and sometimes shows fifty flowers at one 

 time. They can be grown from seed so as to flower within one year. 



Dahlias. Dahlias are the glory of the California late summer and 

 early autumn, leading up to the glory of the chrysanthemum and 

 sharing it, if late planting is observed. There is now such a range of 

 forms and colors that all tastes are met and satisfied. A very inter- 

 esting note of appreciation and advice is this, from Mr. Ernest 

 Braunton of Los Angeles in the California Cultivator: 



