432 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



and of course more easily still during the genial days of summer. 

 In this chapter I propose to suggest some of the plants and flowers 

 that deserve the attention of the beginner in greenhouse manage- 

 ment and to give briefly some hints on their cultivation. 



ARUM (OR CALLA) LILY. This is a deservedly popular greenhouse 

 plant. A well -grown arum, with its stately flowers towering well 

 above the handsome glossy leaves, presents a striking appearance 

 during the winter and spring months. 



Its cultivation is not difficult, if one or two leading principles 

 are borne in mind. It must, first of all, be remembered that it 

 is a sub-tropical plant, and that its natural home is in the ditches 

 of South Africa. Hence it follows that when it is in full growth 

 it must be liberally supplied with water. 



It is possible for the amateur who has never yet grown arums to 

 introduce them into his greenhouse in early autumn, and at very 

 small cost. Small bulbs can then be purchased from any florist 

 or seedsman, and they should be potted at once. The soil should 

 be fairly rich, and consist of two parts fresh loam and one part 

 of equal proportions of peat, leaf mould and silver sand. The 

 bulbs may be buried an inch below the surface. After the first 

 watering-in moisture must be given very sparingly until root 

 action starts and the stem begins to shoot upwards. Afterwards 

 it may be applied in increasingly generous quantities. 



The treatment after the flowers die down in spring consists in 

 dividing and repotting the roots where this is thought to be neces- 

 sary. In June the plants can be placed out of doors, and left ex- 

 posed to the influence of the summer warmth, until October. 

 They are then returned to the greenhouse, and grown on for early 

 flowering. 



Another method which bears good results is to divide the old 

 plants in May and plant them a foot apart in the open ground. 

 The position chosen should be one facing south-west, near a fence 

 or wall, where the sun can have full play. Repotting will be 

 necessary in September, and by this time the plants will have 

 become fine, healthy specimens. 



AZALEA. The azalea is among the most valuable of greenhouse 



