34 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



January, 1910 



on until the available space is fully planted. As a final step 

 work in fibre over the whole of the planted area so that 

 there are no holes, ramming the material in tightly with the 

 fingers. If a very rapid development of the Lilies is de- 

 sired it is important that 

 the early stages of growth 

 should be carried on in the 

 dark, or at least in a dense 

 shade. Removed from the 

 action of strong light the 

 stalks will elongate at a 

 great pace if a suitable 

 temperature is maintained. 

 As has already been indi- 

 cated, it is quite a mistaken 

 idea to attempt to force re- 

 tarded Lily crowns by the 

 application of strong heat. 

 This treatment will really 

 do no good to the plants, 

 and if carried too far may 

 easily harm the specimens 

 — as many a grower has Gathering 



found out to his cost. The 



most suitable temperature to apply to the plants is that 

 which the Lilies would experience if they shouki come to 

 perfection at their natural time about the month of May. 

 A nearly similar degree of warmth is to be found in any 

 room which is comfortably heated for occupation during 

 the winter. 



After four days in the darkness, the box containing the 

 growing Lilies may be brought out into the light. It will 

 be noticed that the shoots have extended considerably, and 

 in some cases may even have started to open up their leaves. 

 Do not immediately place the plants in the strong light, but 

 bring them by stages under the influence of the illumination 

 in front of a window. At no time in the growth of re- 

 tarded Lilies is the admission of sunshine desirable, in that 



curiously enough, the bright heat appears to make the plants 

 droop. Great attention should now be paid to watering the 

 specimens and they should never at any time be allowed to 

 suffer from lack of moisture. If the light is all coming 



from one direction, as will be 

 the case when the Lilies are 

 in front of a window, the box 

 should be turned round daily 

 so as to prevent the stems 

 from leaning over too much 

 to one side. If all goes well 

 the rate of growth should now 

 he considerable. At the end of 

 the first week the spikes will 

 have run up to a good height, 

 whilst by the fifteenth day the 

 flower buds ought to be well 

 in view. Indeed, under very 

 favorable conditions Lilies of 

 the Valley have been grown 

 to their full perfection in the 

 short space of seventeen 

 days. In a general way 

 the grower may reckon that 

 his blossoms will be ready for plucking in about three weeks. 

 During the last few days the foliage will benefit by an oc- 

 casional sprinkle of water, although this should be discon- 

 tinued when the flower buds have opened at all, as the 

 moisture will damage the delicate blossoms. In gathering 

 the Lilies it will be found advisable to cull them when the 

 spike of bells is about half-expanded. In this way the 

 blooms will keep much longer in water than if they are left 

 until fully open. 



Retarded Lilies of the Valley may be cultivated at any 

 time of the year, and it is not an unusual thing even in the 

 summer time, to find the charming white flowers exceed- 

 ingly useful. On special occasions, such as weddings, there 

 is no blossom quite so suitable for decorative purposes. 



the liliies 



An Electrical Household 



By Jacques Boyer 



HE house which has just been fitted up in 

 the heart of Paris by M. George Knap, 

 of Troyes, is the last and most perfect 

 illustration of modern comfort; and al- 

 though a household of this character is 

 not within the reach of everyone, its orig- 

 inality well merits description. 

 After having opened the door, by pressing a button, and 

 confided to the telephone the object of our visit, we are 

 conducted to the dining-room. If a meal is being served, 

 we are surprised to see no waiter moving around the room. 

 The servants remain in the kitchen, and send up every dish 

 at the proper moment. In the dining-room is a switchboard 

 with electrical measuring instruments and the necessary keys 

 and commutators. The function of each key is inscribed 

 above it, in order to diminish the chance of error, and a 

 large bipolar commutator allows the switchboard to be cut 

 off from the illuminating circuit. Various combinations of 

 lights can be used according to circumstances. A large or- 

 namental piece and dishes of fruit adorn the central part of 

 the table, which is strewn with roses in which tiny electric 

 bulbs are concealed. This central portion is surrounded by 

 an oval groove, which leads to the two silver-plated doors 

 which cover the entrance to the electric elevator. The area 



devoted to the plates and other utensils of the guests is 

 bounded by low parapets of glass and silver. Below the 

 table nothing appears except two nickel-plated bars which 

 serve to guide the elevator, which is placed in the basement 

 directly under the dining-room. One of these bars sup- 

 ports the mechanism which operates the elevator and the 

 crescent-shaped doors above it. On the table, beside the 

 host, are four push buttons. When all the guests are 

 seated, the host presses the white button, which causes a 

 little drum to beat in the kitchen. Immediately the doors 

 of the elevator shaft open, the soup tureen ascends to the 

 table, and the doors close and conceal the opening. By 

 pressing a red button at the right or left, the dish is caused 

 to travel around the table in the corresponding direction. 

 It is arrested at any point by removing the finger from the 

 button. Other dishes are served In the same manner. The 

 function of the fourth button Is to cause the dish to rotate, 

 in order to assist the guest In helping himself. When the 

 course has been thus served, the dish Is brought back to the 

 elevator by the operation of the buttons, and the drum in 

 the kitchen Is caused to strike twice. Immediately the ele- 

 vator doors open, and the elevator descends to the kitchen, 

 whence it returns with the next course, after the plates have 

 been changed. 



