ARUM. 39 



for the sake of its edible roots, which are called Manga- 

 ranitos ; but they are very little ornamental ; and the few 

 which are handsome have so powerful and disagreeable 

 a scent as deservedly to banish them from most of our 

 gardens. 



This species, however, is exquisitely beautiful, and not 

 only inoffensive in odour, but even agreeable. The leaves 

 are large and glossy. It has a large white flower, folded 

 with a careless elegance into the shape of a cup or bell, 

 with a bright golden rod (called the spadix) in the centre. 

 Placed by the side of the dark red peony, the effect is 

 truly splendid: the contrast makes both doubly magni- 

 ficent. A heathen might have supposed these fine flowers 

 created on purpose to grace the bosom of the stately 

 Juno. By the side of the rose, too, or the large double 

 tulip, or some of the finer kinds of marygold, it has a 

 noble appearance ; and no flower is more deserving of 

 care in the cultivation. In summer, the Arum should be 

 allowed a liberal draught of water every evening; but, 

 being a succulent plant, should be watered only at the 

 roots. It flowers in May, and may stand abroad until the 

 end of October : it should then be housed, and, during 

 the winter, should be watered but once a week. It retains 

 its leaves all the year : new ones displacing the old, as 

 they decay. In August the root should be taken out of 

 the earth, when there will probably be a number of off-sets 

 upon it : these must be taken off, and planted in separate 

 pots. The mother plant must then be carefully re-set in 

 fresh earth, and, as well as the young roots, be placed in 

 the shade until they have fixed themselves. In winter, 

 although housed, it should be allowed plenty of fresh air 

 in mild weather, and towards the end of April may be gra- 

 dually accustomed to the open air. 



Thunberg says that the Calla Ethiopica " grows even in 



