HINTS FOR WINTER SUCCESS WITH FLOWERS. 



EW PLANTS are more gener- 

 ally found in window collec- 

 tions, or are more popular 

 for window bloom than the 

 calla lily. This may be great- 

 ly due to the beauty of its 

 tropical growth and the ease 

 with which it is cultivated, 

 proper conditions being given. There are, how- 

 ever, many different and some erroneous ideas con- 

 cerning the culture of this much abused plant, par- 

 ticularly as to the amount of water to be given to it. 

 Some people give so much water that the soil 

 around the roots is kept in a state of mud ; 

 even the pot is stood in water. Others allow it to 

 get dry, and then water, or give it a little every day. 

 Some advocate a rest for the bulb during the sum- 

 mer in the pots ; others shake the bulb out of the 

 earth, and again, many others advise keeping the 

 bulb growing all summer. So I shall give my plan 

 for growing this beautiful lily, which has been 

 always successful in bringing me the finest blooms 

 and many of them. After a winter and spring of 

 good growth and bloom, I gradually slack off the 

 water, and when placing the pots out-doors, lay 

 them on their sides, without removing either bulbs 

 or soil, in some sheltered place, where they rest, 

 perfectly dry, until the last of August or the first of 

 September. Then I take the bulb out of the 

 pot, shake off all the earth around its roots, remove 

 all of the little offsets, and repot in fresh rich soil, 

 using some old thoroughly rotted manure which is 

 thoroughly mixed with the soil. No manure should 

 be used unless it is well decomposed, else it will 

 injure the bulb ; where such cannot be procured, 

 bone-dust may be mixed with the soil. Also add a 

 littie pulverized charcoal and some sharp sand to 

 the soil, letting the latter be around the bulb. The 

 soil, besides the additions mentioned, should be of 

 muck or leaf mould, but if either cannot be pro- 

 cured, a good, rich garden soil will do if manure is 

 used. In its native home on the banks of the Nile, 

 it stands in earth that is mostly made up of decayed 

 vegetation, so if the sand is added the soil can 

 scarcely be too rich. 



Before filling the pot with earth, good drainage should 

 be provided, so that all surplus water can drain off ; if 

 water is allowed to stand around the roots, the soil will 

 get sour and soggy, which would perhaps injure the bulb 



quite seriously. For drainage, use pieces of broken 

 pots and charcoal — the latter will serve to keep the soil 

 sweet ; this drainage provision also makes it possible for 

 some air to reach the roots, which is of importance. 

 For a ,bulb three or four years old, a pot of ten or 

 twelve inches will be suitable. A bulb of that size 

 should have about four crowns, which will be sufficient 

 to furnish a large number of leaves at one time, and 

 each crown will probably give from three to four lilies. 



When inserting the bulb in the earth, press the soil 

 around it firmly, but have a care not to bruise the roots, 

 which are tender. Water thoroughly well with tepid 

 water, and set the pot in the shade for about a week, so 

 as to allow the roots of the bulb to make a good start. 

 Do not water more than enough to keep the soil moder- 

 ately moist, until the bulb is growing well. Then set 

 the plant in a light half-shady place until it is removed 

 to its winter quarters, which should be light and warm, 

 with some sunshine. Water always with warm water, 

 and let the leaves be sprinkled every day or two. Water 

 it every day if necessary, and give enough so that a lit" 

 tie will drain off through the hole in the bottom of the 

 pot. The soil should be kept wet all of the time, but 

 not muddy, and never should it be allowed to become 

 dry during its growing season. The secret of growing 

 the calla successfully is to observe as closely as possible 

 its native condition of growth. Callas, when blooming 

 in their native home, are said to stand a foot deep in 

 water in the bright, open sunshine and in soil made very 

 rich by quantities of decayed vegetation. After the 

 blooming season is over the waters subside and the 

 ground in which they are growing becomes very hot 

 and dry. 



The calla must not be allowed to lack for food ; so 

 when in bud or bloom, unless the soil is very rich and 

 not exhausted, a weekly dose of liquid manure should 

 be given them, in order to have fine, large blooms. 



OxALis, when through blooming, should be left in their 

 pots through the summer, and not dried off and taken 

 out of the earth. Water them until foliage commences 

 to turn yellow, gradually decreasing. 



The new double yellow daisy, Anthemis coronaria 

 flora plena, is magnificent for bedding or for pot culture. 

 It blooms most profusely all through the year, and its 

 rich golden yellow flowers give it a wonderfully striking 

 effect. 



The Spider Lily, Paiicraliu/n Caribbaum , so much 

 spoken of, is truly a lovely and curious plant. The 

 bulbs may be potted or grown out-doors in the flower 

 bed, and are easily raised. The flowers are large and 

 white, coming in clusters ; they are very finely scented, 

 and freely borne. When planting them, set the crown 

 of the bulb just a little below the soil. 



