CA A' A IJJA A IJO R TICIJL TV HIST. 



39 



stake to prevent it from breakinji with 

 the wind and rains. 



Chrysanthemums are vigorous feed- 

 ers. 1 suppliefl them with liquid 

 manure at least three times a week ; 

 they were also well watered, to prevent 

 flagging. To prevent Black Fly I 

 steeped tobacco stems in water and 

 syringed the plants. 



The stimulant used was chiefly cow 

 manure placed in a tub of water, and 

 stable manure placed in a basket set 

 in water. About the end of September 

 1 erected a house to keep the plants 

 from freezing. I chose the south side 

 of a fence, and placed the end of a 

 twelve-foot scantling on the top rail, 

 the other end resting on a similar 

 scantling in front about three feet 

 from the ground, using no boards in 

 the structure ; the fence thus formed 

 the back, and one end. After nailing 

 bags along the front to keep out the 

 cold, I placed hot-bed lights on the 

 top, and put a box stove inside to heat 

 the place when required. 1 continued 

 to cut the bloom until near Christmas. 



The Calla Lily. 

 There is no flower for winter bloom 

 ing that has received more atten- 

 tion than the Calla Lily, and, at the 

 same time, has disappointed so often. 

 As soon as the weather will permit it 

 to be set out, the owner can be seen 

 tugging it round to find a suitable place 

 for it to rest during the summer 

 months, previous to repotting for 

 winter. The Calla is fully able to take 

 fare of itself ; all the rest it needs it 

 will take in its own way and own time. 

 Set it out and let it take its chances 

 with other plants, but never water ; if 

 it gets wet with the rain it will be all 

 right, and you will find that it will 

 naturally die down. It may have one 

 or two small leaves during the summer, 

 as the Lily will live as long as there are 

 roots to feed on, as it eats all the sulj- 

 stance out of the roots, and you will 

 tind when you repot it that there is 



iiotliiiig left that were once roots but 

 dried up, l)iack-looking fibre. In order 

 to repot a Lily properly, empty it out 

 of the pot entirely. The same soil can 

 be used again, as the soil is only a sub- 

 stance through which the plant receives 

 its living ; the growing Lily ^depends 

 on light, heat, and water. Put into 

 the pot the .same 

 soil mixed with 

 the old roots and 

 chopped up 

 leaves ; put as 

 many leaves in 

 the bottom of the 

 pot as you can 

 possibly pack in 

 before putting in your soil, as decompos- 

 ed vegetable matter is really better than 

 animal matter, the latter will produce 

 larger plants, but they seldom bloom 

 when they grow so lai-ge, and if they 

 do it vvill be only one flower during the 

 winter, and that not until near spring. 

 I have Lilies that have not had any 

 dressing, that have grown just in com- 

 mon soil, with the pots set in bowls of 

 water, and the stocks would not mea- 

 sure an inch and a half in circumfer- 

 ence, and they have bloomed freely. 

 After you have finished potting, place 

 the pot in a bowl of water or pan, one 

 that will hold at least a half pint with 

 the pot. This must be kept full of 

 water, as the hot sun will soon dry out 

 all moisture, which is very injurious to 

 the plant at the first starting. Now 

 leave the Lily to take care of itself, and 

 in the course of a week or two you will 

 see it sprouting. The water that is 

 drawn up through the soil by the rays 

 of the sun on the surface of .the soil 

 passes thiough the leaves that have 

 been placed in the bottom of the pot, 

 and thus carries with it carbon gas that 

 is so necessary to plant life. The more 

 decomposed the leaves the more gas. 

 As the leaves unfold they commence 

 taking in carbon from the air, thus, you 

 see, it has a double supply. When the 

 plant is taken into the house, it must 

 have a window where it can have the 



