Parlor-Plants. 19 



PARLOR-PLANTS. — No. IL 



In our last, we briefly gave general cultural directions, leaving for the 

 present article special mention and culture of those plants best adapted 

 for parlor-culture, or window-gardening. 



And, first, there is no better plant, and none with which success is more 

 certain, than the calla-lily {Richaniia y^thiopica). The plant is not a lily 

 at all ; but popularly it is so, and thus in common parlance it will ever be. 

 Having procured our plants in spring, turn them at once into the open 

 ground in a rich, moist soil, or sink the pots in the ground. They will not 

 bloom ; will lose some, and perhaps all, of their leaves. No matter : they are 

 resting, and will be all the better for it. By midsummer they will begin 

 to make a stout, handsome growth, a dark, rich green foliage. Just before 

 the first frost, take up the plants, if in pots, merely by lifting them, if in the 

 ground, with a large ball and all the roots, and pot them. Remove them 

 to a warm, sheltered place, water freely, and, cutting off all dead leaves, 

 wash the pots, and prepare the plants for the house. 



The best mode of growing callas is in a hollow table lined with zinc ; 

 and they will well repay having a place to themselves. Eight or ten good 

 plants will till a table four feet long by two wide. The table should be so 

 deep, that the top of the pot may be covered with moss ; and moss should 

 also be filled in between the pots. We have then a mass of callas in a 

 garden of moss ; and it is as effective an arrangement as could be desired. 

 The only care needed is to give plenty of water at the roots, :!,ponge the 

 foliage once a week, and occasionally turn the table as the plants grow 

 towards the light. 



Soon after removal to the house, the plants will make a vigorous growth, 

 and by November will begin to show bloom, and will continue flowering 

 until May, when they should be turned into the garden again, and allowed 

 to go to rest. Callas in pots in the window should have plenty of water 

 and light : with these they seldom fail to do well. Propagation is effected 

 by removing the offsets, which are freely produced. Unless, however, an 

 increase of stock is needed, it is a good plan to allow all the young plants to 



