84 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1910. 



than any other plant, in an undrained soil. Their bold and decorative 

 appearance enhances the landscape of any garden where they may be grown. 

 Plenty of water and plenty of manure are the conditions that Carinas love. 

 The flower trusses should be removed as soon as their beauty has passed, t'"" 

 make room for other heads on the stem ; and as soon as a flowering stem 

 has developed all its flowers, it should be removed from the base. Cannas 

 are not often used for house decorations ; but two or three spikes, in a 

 fairly large vase, make an attractive enhancement to any room. Austria, 

 Suevia, Alemannia, Kate Grey, Florence Vaughan, Philadelphia, 

 Wyoming, and Queen Charlotte, would be a good selection for a, garden. 



The Zinnia is a most popular hardy annual, of a showy nature, and 

 valuable either for massing in groups or as a single specimen plant. If 

 grown as a .specimen, as many flowers as possible should be encouraged 

 and left on the plant, as if only a few flowers are left, they tend to be- 

 come \ery gross and coarse. A number of varieties, among these the 

 twisted or curled, and the zebra or striped, have been introduced into cul- 

 tivation ; but the old type of Zinnia elegans, and its improved and enlarged 

 edition, grandiflora, still hold swav in the garden. 



The Salvia family are now in full bloom, and the " Bonfire " Salvia 

 and its allied varieties are adding largely to the attractiveness of the 

 garden. The seed of the various Salvias should be saved as it ripens, as it 

 is comparatively easy to raise them from seed, if the young plants are pro- 

 tected until the frosts are over. Salvias Bonfire, Gloire de Studgardt, and 

 Tom Thumb, are the best of the scarlets, the latter being of dwarf habit. 

 Salvia patens is perhaps the finest blue flower grown ; it is easily grown 

 from root division or seed, and requires a .shaded position to be most suc- 

 cessful. S. azurra is a paler blue than patens, and is of a far more hardy 

 type. An uncommon salvia, and one that is very suitable for rockwork, is. 

 S. argcntia. Its extremely large spreading leaves, covered with thick silvery 

 hairs, are an effective setting for its si>reading spikes of pure white flowers. 

 A clump of this salvia would be beautiful in any garden. 



Flowering trees and shrubs such as Acacia data, the most handsome of 

 all acacias, Oleander, Poinciana, and Virgilia capensis are now attracting 

 attention ; and these should be noted for future reference, as they are 

 very useful and attractive as summer flowering shrubs. 



Cultural operations and watering should occupy considerable time this 

 month. The rains of January have soaked well into the ground and where 

 gardens have been mulched, the water may now be used very sparingly. 

 Unmulched beds should be frequently stirred with the hoe, to loosen the ■ 

 surface, and to destroy all foreign growths. 



Delphiniums should be well looked after for autumn blooms ; the old' 

 stems should be cut down, and the crown liberally mulched and watered. 



Carnation layers must be attended to, the soil being kept cool and 

 moist, so as to allow easy rooting. 



Any perennial or hardy annual seeds may now be sown, and cuttings of 

 Zonale pelargoniums, or what are commonly known as geraniums, may be 

 planted. 



A few spring flowering bulbs may be planted for early blooms, and 

 the soil and beds well worked in anticipation of planting the main crop in 

 March and April. 



Dahlias, Chrysanthemums and Roses will require a great deal of atten- 

 tion this month. Dahlias should be well staked, watered, and all unneces- 

 sary laterals removed. 



