AuvueustT, 1908 
quite symmetrical. The bright yellow 
flowers are from one to one and a quarter 
inches across, and stand out in sharp con- 
trast against the beautiful dark green 
foliage. 
The yellow flax is not a difficult plant 
to grow if one can give it a night tempera- 
ture of 55 degrees or 60 degrees and lots 
of sunlight; it will not succeed in windows 
having but few or no-direct rays from the 
sun. You can grow plants from seed, or from 
cuttings. The latter are taken from the 
growths which starts from the base of the 
plants; cuttings taken from top growths have 
a tendency to flower prematurely. Make 
the cuttings in the late winter or early spring, 
- when the plants are through flowering, and 
plant them out during the summer. 
Such plants will be large enough for a 
5 or 6 inch pot late in August or early 
September. Be very careful when lifting 
the yellow flax, for it does not like shifts. 
Among the showy large flowered bulbous 
plants the common calla (Richardia Ajri- 
_ cana) does not always give satisfaction be- 
cause of failing to bloom. The summer 
treatment of the bulbs largely determines 
whether the plants will flower or not. If water 
is withheld and the pots laid over on their 
sides in a dry shaded place so that the bulbs 
may rest, there will be no trouble with non- 
flowering during the winter. Start into 
growth in September. At first give them one 
good watering which will be sufficient until 
the roots have started growth. Until the 
plants are in good growth, water sparingly; 
after that, copious amounts of water will 
_ be needed until late in the following spring 
or early summer when the bulbs must be 
dried off. The calla is a gross feeder and 
the soil must needs be rich. Let it contain 
about one-third of well rotted horse or cow 
manure and the balance of rotted sod with 
enough sand to make good drainage. The 
Little Gem calla is a dwarf form, twelve 
to sixteen inches high, well worth cultivating. 
The golden calla (Richardia Elliottiana) 
is a summer blooming kind, the bulbs being 
kept over winter in a cellar, or other con- 
venient place, in a temperature of 45 devrees. 
In April they are potted in a rich soil and 
Clivia, an evergreen bulb, flowering in summer, is 
one of the best cool house plants 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
Hybrid amaryllises are the most showy and the 
largest flowered bulbs. Order now for November 
delivery 
given a watering. For the following week 
or two they can be left in any cool dark place 
such as in the cellar or under a bench until 
the roots have started. Having once started 
the plants will make a rapid growth and come 
into bloom in ten or twelve weeks. 
The most showy bulbous plant is the 
Amaryllis (or rather, Hippeastrum) with 
lily-like trumpets four to five inches across 
borne on stems eighteen inches to two 
feet high, and the one which will best 
withstand the conditions of house culture 
is Johnsoni, a garden hybrid, or any of its 
progeny for the plants have been cross- 
fertilized times innumerable so that now one 
may secure them in almost any shade of red. 
The best named varieties of this amaryllis 
arrive from abroad in November. They 
cannot be secured before because the bulbs 
must be thoroughly ripened before shipping. 
Very good American grown bulbs can be 
secured about a month earlier, however. 
As soon as they are received pot the bulbs 
in a good soil composed of three parts rotted 
sod, two parts well decayed horse manure 
and one part of sand. Never let them lie 
dormant until along in January when if 
they are good strong bulbs they will flower. 
As soon as the flower bud is seen emerging 
from the bulb put the plant in the window 
where it can get plentv of sunlight and 
water. 
The flowers appear before much leaf- 
growth is made, after that time during the 
period of growth, water must be given, and 
manure water once or twice a week will be 
of benefit. When all danger of frost is past 
plunge the potted plants out doors in cool 
ashes, soil, or anything else handy to prevent 
the rapid evaporation of water through the 
21 
pots. When the leaves begin to turn 
yellow it is a sign that the bulbs are ripening. 
Gradually withhold water and when they are 
quite ripened store the bulbs in a cool dry 
place until the flower scapes begin to push 
out of the soil the following winter. 
The blue African lily (Agapanthus) has 
many long, narrow, dark leaves from among 
which rises a stem two or three feet high, 
bearing a large cluster of very handsome 
blue flowers. The easiest way to handle 
this is to grow it in pots or tubs which are 
stored in a light cellar or other dry place 
during the winter. During the resting 
period give the plant just enough water to 
prevent the leaves from falling. In the spring, 
when danger of frost is past, the plants are 
put out doors to flower and make their growth. 
The Agapanthus is however, easily forced 
into bloom at other seasons of the year, for 
the flowering season is controlled by the 
resting period. The earlier you wish it 
to flower the earlier you dry it off, and then 
it does not have to rest all winter if the 
growth was made outdoors during the previous 
summer, for it can be brought into the house 
after the turn of the year and started into 
growth. 
When once established, the plants need not 
be repotted for several years if they are 
fed with manure water during the period 
of growth. 
The clivia (C. miniata or Imantophyllum 
miniatum) is an evergreen’ bulbous plant 
well worth growing for the beauty of its 
dark green foliage. It flowers during the. 
spring or early summer months. The 
flowers are funnel-shaped, as in the amaryllis, 
bright orange, red, or flesh, with a yellow 
throat and about three inches across. Give 
it a strong well drained soil which will not 
wear out for a couple of years and which will 
not become sodden or sour for it is not 
necessary to repot it each year. During 
the winter the clivia can be stored in a light 
cool place the temperature of which does 
not go below 4o degrees. Under such con- 
ditions it needs but little water. 
Among the flowering begonias Gloire de Se- 
caux has also very ornamental leaves 
