56 GARDENING FOK PLEASURE. 



too much foliage is produced. We have found the best 

 method to be not to use too large pots, and to use liquid 

 manure freely, made from one bushel of cow dung to 

 twenty-five or thirty gallons of water, or one pound of 

 guano to ten gallons of water. When an excess of leaves 

 occurs, cut them off freely, withholding water somewhat 

 for a week or so after cutting the leaves off. By this 

 method the plants can be grown closely together, and a 

 larger crop of flowers obtained from the same space. 



The Calla is one of the best of winter-flowering plants 

 for room culture, needing little care beyond abundant 

 water, and an occasional syringing or washing of the 

 leaves to keep them free from dust and red spider. It 

 is also a good plant for a large aquarium. The Dwarf 

 Calla, a sport from the original species, is identical in 

 all respects except that its flowers and leaves are about 

 half the size of the original. R. alba-maculata, a species 

 with beautifully variegated or spotted foliage, makes a 

 showy plant. The flowers are smaller than the Calla, and 

 white, with purple throat. It comes into flower in May 

 and June, making it valuable for a succession. It is also 

 desirable in a collection of plants with variegated foliage. 

 Another species, R. hastata, is somewhat similar to R. 

 alba-maculata, except that the flowers are a deep yellow 

 with a purple throat. There is still another kind of 

 "Calla," sometimes called the "Black Calla," from the 

 very dark crimson of its velvet-like flowers. It is really, 

 however, a plant of another genus, known as Arum 

 Palestinum. It is quite a scarce plant as yet, but will 

 be a great acquisition from its unique and novel color. 

 Unlike most species of the genus Arum, the flowers of 

 this are of a pleasing fragrance. The species are all 

 propagated by offsets, which should be taken off when 

 the plant is at rest, and grown on in small pots for one 

 season. 



