4 



THE FLORAL WORLD 



CANNA CULTURE 



Several years ago I set out a Ehe- 

 manni canna in my south yard; it is 

 protected on the north by the house. 

 I made a circle four feet across, dug 

 down two feet, put in a bushel of rich 

 dirt and dry stable manure, and mixed 

 it thoroughly. I set my canna in the 

 center and watered it well and kept it 

 so all through the season. It grew 

 very tall and bloomed profusely. After 

 it was killed by frost I cut off the top, 

 put on dry stable manure, and rounded 

 up like a potato hill, put leaves on 

 top and sides and boards on them to 

 weight them down and keep off rain 

 and snow. I saved my cannas this 

 way three years ago when it was twen- 

 ty degrees below zero. I repeat this 

 process every fall. My canna bed has 

 not been disturbed for years, only to 

 thin out when too thick. 



Missouri. Mrs. L. B. Jones. 



THE CULTURE OF OXALIS 



Plants, since the memory of man, 

 have been designated as useful, beau- 

 tiful and injurious; hence it was a be- 

 lief of the superstitious that good 

 and evil spirits dwelt in them respec- 

 tively. In a very ancient work on the 

 art of simpling we are told that every 

 shrub and herb has a mission with a 

 particular signature by which its prop- 

 erties may become known. This same 

 treatise unfortunately fails to indicate 

 how such mythical nature lore may be 

 deciphered. 



The word oxalis signifies soursalt 

 from the oxalates contained in the 

 juice. It is cultivated with a twofold 

 object; as a remedy for the diseases 

 of man, and for adornment. In the 

 medical cult it was for many years 

 used as a secret cure for cancer. Some 

 writers endeavor to prove that the 

 obcordate leaves represent the "three 

 in one" of the shamrock used by St. 

 Patrick as an object lesson in his 

 famous sermon on the trinity. In 



flower language, oxalis denotes joy, its 

 ancestor being called fairy bells. 



Quite recently in Wales a legend 

 was popular that the tiny golden um- 

 bels sounded chimes of flower music 

 to summon Titania and her train to 

 moonlight revelry. 



If you wish to grow these delicate 

 blooms successfully procure early in 

 November a six-inch pot or a hanging 

 basket of the same size with a deep 

 saucer. Place in the bottom of this 

 receptacle four or five small stones. 

 Over these sift two tablespoonfuls of 

 powdered charcoal. Fill with leaf 

 mold. Moisten the whole thoroughly 

 before planting the seven bulbs, which 

 is the proper number for this space. 

 Hang or adjust on a bracket in the 

 sunniest nook possible. Water every 

 morning. As the leaflets appear insert 

 in the mold two or three matches an 

 inch deep. These will discourage in- 

 sects. When the blossoms open be 

 sure to snip with sharp scissors those 

 that have faded. They may be easily 

 distinguished from the fresh buds, as 

 the whorls are twisted in an opposite 

 direction. Occasionally stir the earth. 



If these simple directions are fol- 

 lowed elfin bells will ring a joyous 

 welcome to every beholder. 



Josephine A. Cheeseman. 



Colorado. 



GERANIUMS AS WINTER ELOOMERS 



There is no more satisfactory winter 

 L-ooming plant than the geranium. 

 Having grown all kinds of plants for 

 several years, w±.h varied success, I 

 recommend the geranium for all who 

 desire fiowers for winter. 



They will do well in the ordinary sit- 

 ting room window or in the small hot- 

 house of the amateur. What is more 

 beautiful than the lovely double va- 

 rieties, glowing in every color, from 

 the deepest crimson to the softest 

 pink, or what is brighter than the 

 many colored, delicately shaded sorts? 



Get strong, bushy plants or cuttings, 



