112 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



reset occasionally as they deteriorate when too much 

 crowded. No class of plants in late years has been 

 so much improved as has the canna. 



One of the most effective plants that go to make 

 up the tropical garden is the crinum, often dubbed 

 "spider lily" because in many species the petals are 

 long and slender, giving the flower a slight resem- 

 blance to a huge spider. Not all, however, have 

 these attenuated blossoms; some species have 

 flowers of a shape similar to those of the amaryllis 

 or belladonna lily. 



The oxalis, found in several colors, makes a fine 

 carpet and winter blooming plant which is exceed- 

 ingly easy to grow. In fact, it prefers neglect. 

 Oxalis varies greatly, both in foliage and color of 

 flower, and is not sufficiently appreciated in Cali- 

 fornia. 



The aroids, or order Aroideae, is represented here 

 by callas, elephant's ears, Jack-in-the-pulpit, mon- 

 steras, philodendrons and many other plants both 

 tropical and hardy. The callas comprise several 

 genera and are generally known as white, yellow, 

 pink, green, black, or spotted callas. They are in 

 botany, richardias, arums, dracunculus, amorpho- 

 phallus, sauratum, etc. One who has a full collec- 

 tion of aroids has a group of plants nearly as curi- 

 ous as the tribe of cactus. 



Our native California bulbs should not be over- 

 looked ; we have many species of fine lilies, Mariposa, 

 or butterfly lilies, brodiaeas, or wild hyacinths. 



DAHLIAS AND THEIR CULTURE 



Few cultivated plants have such a wide range of 

 colors as the dahlia. It is one of the old-fashioned, 

 practical flowers that has been improved much of 

 late years. Those who have seen only the round, 



