10 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
a considerable range of differences in the form and size of 
the leaves and the size of the flowers, these latter varying 
from three-quarters of an inch to about one and a half 
inches in diameter. 
The above interesting history and description of this 
CALLA 
O PINIONS differ so widely in the culture of the Calla 
Lily, I do not wonder that amateur florists are non¬ 
plussed to know which way is right. Some advise a rest 
of two or three months in a year, while others say, keep 
them growing all the time. 
One writer says : “ I keep my Calla growing all sum¬ 
mer, set out of doors in a shady place, and have not re¬ 
potted it for five years; but every spring and autumn I 
dig out some of the soil and fill in with new, using most 
the fine black muck that abounds in our swamps, and let 
from four to six bulbs live in the same large pot. From 
each bulb I have four flowers in a season, and treated in 
this way, my Callas have been in bud and blossom ten 
months of the year.” 
Another says : “ In June take your Callas out of doors, 
turn the pots over on their sides, and leave them through 
the hot summer months, giving them no attention what¬ 
ever. The old leaves will drop off, and the earth in the 
pots bake into the consistency of bricks. This looks like 
harsh treatment, but the Calla likes it. In September 
bring in the plants and give them water. A short time 
will suffice to start them into growth; and as soon as the 
leaves appear, use water quite warm. Never remove the 
new bulbs that form around the old plant, but as they 
grow shift the plants into larger pots, and you are sure of 
flowers for the winter.” 
And still another writes: “ In August, the leaves of 
my Calla having died down, I take up the bulbs, and, 
after removing all offsets, which should always be done, I 
repot in fresh soil, using one-third sand; give but little 
water until they begin to grow well, then water plenti- 
ully, adding a few drops of ammonia about twice a week. 
At Christmas set them in a vessel and every morning 
pour boiling water into it. Let them stand in water con¬ 
stantly, and both buds and flowers will soon make their 
appearance.” 
Again I turn a leaf and read : “ The Calla Lily being 
a tropical plant, and its native home the marshes and 
deltas of the river Nile, it, of course, must be well sup¬ 
plied with water, but only at certain seasons. About the 
first of July lay the pot containing the plant on its side in 
some out of the way place, and let it remain until the 
first of September; then repot in fresh soil, using a com¬ 
post composed of two parts woods’-mould, one part sand, 
and one part rich garden loam, well mixed. Water 
freely, and after it has thrown up some three or four 
leaves, earth up around the stems leaving the outer eyes 
next to the pot lowest; put on from one to two quarts of 
boiling water each day, and you will be surprised at the 
number of blossoms obtained by this method.” 
As far as my own experience goes, the quotations above 
prove nothing either way, except that the Calla is a very 
beautiful family of plants has been taken from the Garden 
(London) of November 15. We have not described all the 
species and varieties, but sufficient to give a clear idea of 
the value of this plant for the many situations it is adapted 
to fill. 
LILIES. 
amiable plant, and its powers of endurance are indeed 
wonderful, else it would never survive the rigid discipline 
to which it is often subjected. That nature has provided 
a rest for the Calla every season I believe, but it is a mis¬ 
taken idea to think we are emulating Egypt and the Nile 
when we cramp our plants into a small-sized pot and 
turn them on their sides until the soil becomes hard as 
bricks, and the roots of the plants are as dry as leather 
shoestrings. I, for one, do not believe the Calla likes 
such arbitrary treatment. I could as readily believe that 
an individual undergoing treatment from an “ old-school ” 
physician enjoyed being bled and blistered until he was 
too weak to offer any resistance, because perchance if he 
recovered he might smile on us again. 
Those who cultivate Callas, when repotting their plants 
have doubtless noticed the rope-like roots coiled in the 
bottom of the pot, and that these in turn are thickly set 
with fibrous roots or feeders, which are also found on and 
around the plant just below the surface of the soil. Now, 
botany teaches us that every root and fibre, even the most 
tiny, has its part to perform in nourishing the plant. If 
this be true, how injurious it must be to the plant itself 
when we let the roots become too dry for action, and 
keep them in this condition for months together. I 
believe it is an error to let the roots of the Calla become 
absolutely dry ; they should have moisture enough when 
resting to keep them from shriveling. 
If we consult history concerning its native habitat, we 
shall find that from June 21, the beginning of the sum¬ 
mer solstice, the waters of the Nile begin to rise gradu¬ 
ally within the banks of the stream until the middle of 
July, when they overflow them. About the 20th of August 
the valley presents the appearance of a great inland sea, 
and so continues until the time of the autumnal equinox, 
when the waters begin to subside, and by the last of 
November the river is once more within its banks. 
The rise is estimated at from twenty-nine to forty feet; 
and as the land is submerged from July to November, the 
Calla does not have a great opportunity for drying off, 
although the roots may lie dormant through it all, and 
spring up anew through the rich deposit of black mud 
when the waters have subsided. 
We are told, as the waters dry out of the surface of the 
ground, the long ropes of roots follow it horizontally, 
going down to the bed of the Nile, where a perfect net¬ 
work is formed. 
By this arrangement, the leaves are independent of the 
dry atmosphere by which they are surrounded; and the 
plants have from December to June in which to grow and 
blossom. 
My experience with the Calla is, that it should have at 
least six weeks rest in summer-time. If we set it out of 
