CALADIUMS 47 



three years ago. It stands full out in the open 

 and does not mind the sun ; but the Stephanotis 

 likes a little shade. This is all over the portico 

 fern-house, which is north. Another pure white 

 flower is out too; the Tuberose. Something 

 shouted at me in the evening with its intense 

 fragrance. I turned round and there it was ; the 

 first one open out of a long line. It is too 

 strongly scented for the house, but I like it in the 

 garden. Gardening operations now are limited 

 to the Chamber of Horrors, for it is impossible 

 to do anything outside ; the sun is too fierce, and 

 anything would die if moved. 



Now is the season for Caladiums though; a 

 near relation to our old friends, the "Lords and 

 Ladies," of childhood. The bulbs have been lying 

 in sand, and are now sending up shoots; asking 

 to be planted out. The first thing is to prepare 

 pots with good drainage; then a soil composed 

 partly of leaf mould, and old bricks pounded up ; 

 and the rest garden-earth. One bulb in a pot is 

 quite enough. Stand them in slight shade, and 

 water well, and then watch them grow ! The 

 bright red one with green edges is the most 



