22 The Canadian Horticulturist 



state, such for instance as the Japan HHes, which, in suitable localities, 

 bloom profusely. In this locality, where there is an average of over forty 

 days during each winter when the glass sinks to zero, and not infrequently 

 to thirty degrees below that point, certain classes of plants which can be 

 artificially protected during severe winter weather, can be cultivated with 

 success as far north as the summer season is sufficiently lengthy to open its 

 flowers, or ripen its fruits. Allusion in flowers is made to the rose, and in 

 fruits to the grape, the blackberry, etc. One would suppose that any plant 

 so protected would succeed, but many attempts to cultivate the peach by 

 artificial protection has invariably failed. 



With regard to the hardiness of some cultivated fruits, it must be borne 

 in mind that soil and situation have a good deal to do with the power of the 

 plants to resist cold. Often when the border line of the freezing limit is 

 reached, a well drained soil and good cultivation will give such robustness 

 to vegetation that the plant defies the icy air which whistles through its 

 branches. As a rule the vegetable kingdom is as much opposed to wet feet 

 as are mothers in regard to their young offspring. It is certainly true that 

 many of our domesticated plants do produce seedlings hardier than their 

 parents, such as the plum, the grape, or the apple, but this after all may be, 

 and probably is, a relation to the original stock, such as the wild vine, the 

 crab, etc., so that after all we must conclude that the weight of testimony is 

 against the theory that plants may be made to resist a greater degree of 

 frost than the original hardiness which exists within themselves when first 

 procured in a wild state. 



RICHARDIAS. 



A MONG the many favorites for the window garden, there is perhaps 

 <YA none which is more generally grown in Canada than the one we call 

 Calla Lily. Its large sagittate leaves, and its pure white spathe 

 thrown back to disclose a bright yellow spadix, fully covered with flowers 

 proper, make it a rich ornament to any window. No funeral decorations 

 are thought complete without a liberal supply of the African lilies, and the 

 length of time they will keep in a fresh condition is an additional point in 

 their favor. 



It will be a surprise to a good many to be told that the name " Calla," 

 by which this flower is commonly known, is a misnomer, although perhaps 

 too wide-spread to be corrected, except among florists. The name belongs 

 to another species of the Arum family, viz., Calla palustris, or Water Arum, 

 a low perennial herb, which, although originally introduced from Europe, is 

 •quite common in the northern United States in boggy places, but is not 

 worthy of a place in the window garden. 



