THE GARDEN 25 



loveliest flowers in the world, and one of the most indescribably ugly, 

 namely, this very small white calla and the skunk cabbage. 



The white calla is often called "the lily of the Nile," while the 

 botanical name under which it is now known is richardia africana, after L. 

 C. Richard, a French botanist, who introduced the root into England about 

 the year 1730 from the Cape of Good Hope. It was then known as calla 

 aethiopica by which name it is still sometimes called. 



The root is more or less of a thick, fleshy bulb, out of which grows the 

 flowering column, which is from the very beginning protected by closely 

 enfolding leaves. 



The column finally outstrips these enrolling leaves in height and sends 

 aloft the peculiar flower. 



Like the typical flowers of the arum family, this white lily form is 

 composed of a thick, brownish golden spadtx, Surrounded by a graceful 

 enclosing and backfolding bract or leaf, which slowly turns snowy white. 



The long funnel formation of this flower is often ten inches long, a 

 truly regal crown for the stately plant, the leaves of which are clear green 

 and beautiful beyond compare. 



Given a healthy root, there is no difficulty in the culture of the white 

 calla. Fresh stock is obtained by the division of the tender offshoots that 

 appear in the spring. 



As potted plants a rich soil is best, three parts loam, one part sand, and 

 one part decayed cow manure, an abundance of water at first, plenty of 

 sun, and a fair amount of heat. 



LILY OF THE VALLEY 



Lily of the valley is a plant very easy to grow. In many old gardens, 

 forgotten and neglected, it has bloomed on and on, year after year, for- 

 gotten by all save bee and butterfly. Anxious to attract the attention of 

 the casual passerby, it has escaped from the confines of the old gardens, 

 and, scampering gleefully along the highways, makes glad the heart of the 

 young boys and girls, early on the hunt for wild flowers, and the first 

 signs of spring. 



' Every season the beds should be thinned out in spots, for these lilies 

 multiply so rapidly that they will ovverrun everything in sight, and then 

 it is only a question of the survival of the fittest. The vale lily usually 

 comes out uppermost in the struggle for life. By keeping the plants thinned 

 out, larger and longer spikes of flowers will be obtained; but let me give 

 a point just here: if the roots are transplanted one year, in all probability 

 the following year no flowers will appear, but the second season will be 

 much finer specimens. 



To show how they will multiply, I am not exaggerating in the least 

 when I tell you that last spring I was forced to throw away three barrei- 

 fuls. It nearly broke our hearts, as we were like the old woman who 

 believed that nothing should be wasted; there was no room in the garden 

 for them. Nobody nearby had any desire, apparently, for the gardening is 

 hard work, you know, and many think it is also such dirty work. "Dear 

 me," and our lilies had to go out into the lane. 



Vale lilies look unusually well on any kind of rock work. In shady spots, 

 under trees, or on the north side of walls or fences, especially if the soil is 

 fairly moist, they will do well. One drawback, however, is this: where they 

 are nothing else can grow at the same time, because their roots form such 

 a dense mat that all the nourishment is drawn from that part of the soil. 

 There is such a great deal to say about this wee plant that it cdn hardly be 

 attempted in this short space. All I can say is: If you have none, buy some, 

 and learn about them from themselves. 



