70 WINTEE GREENERIES AT HOME. 



respects they are very desirable. When set in the center 

 of the window-box, or in vases on the floor, they produce 

 a fine effect, the leaves being large and graceful, and the 

 pure white flowers remaining beautiful for several weeks. 

 Both varieties are said to thrive in rooms having but lit- 

 tle direct sunshine, and are anywhere easily managed. 

 After they have flowered, whether in winter or spring, 

 remove them to the cellar, or some sheltered place free 

 from frost, and, without breaking the stalks, turn the 

 pots upon their sides, and allow the roots to become very 

 nearly dry. In August, soak the ball in water, wash off 

 all the soil, remove the offsets (to be used for new plants), 

 and repot the tuberous roots in a rich soil of clayey loam. 

 From this time until the next period of rest, water 

 abundantly every day. In this case, there is, happily, 

 no liability to injury from over- watering, as the Calla is 

 naturally an aquatic plant, and is often used for aquari- 

 ums, where it grows with the roots constantly sub- 

 merged. I have seen it reported, that with strong plants 

 a second flower may be brought forward immediately 

 after the first has faded, by pulling down and cutting 

 away the old stalk, at the foot of which a new bud ap- 

 pears. You may be interested in making the experiment. 



4. The hardy or "Holland Bulbs" Hyacinths, Nar- 

 cissus, etc. are, as you probably know, the common re- 

 sort for winter bloom when everything else has been given 

 up in despair. They are doubtless the best plants that 

 can be selected for a cool room with windows to the 

 north. Indeed, the beauty of their flowers is more or 

 less impaired by exposure to a high temperature and 

 strong sunshine. As they have a great variety of colors 

 and are so easily accommodated, you will expect from 

 me "the whats and the hows" of their special treatment. 



Hyacinths may be grown in wet sand, or gravel, or 

 moss, or in water, but much better in pots of earth not 

 less than six inches deep. In a pot eight inches deep 



