300 Landscape Gardening 



Subtropical Plants 



Strongly marked features in lawn or in garden may be 

 produced by the use of subtropical plants, i.e., those with 

 large leaves or large growth of stem and flowers. They 

 may be so grouped together as to render otherwise tame 

 landscape views attractive. Most of these plants being 

 tender and requiring a rich and moist, w^arm soil, they cannot 

 be put out until the ground has become well warmed and 

 are better to be started under glass and grown to con- 

 siderable size if immediate effect is desired. Among those 

 that can be most easily grown and give the best results 

 are the following: 



Canae {Canna, vars. and hybrids), Fig. 167. — These 

 rapidly-growing plants vary from i to 6 feet in height, and 

 in foliage from the brightest green to a very dark purple, 

 and with a great variety of blossoms, especially the new 

 strains of the French and hybrid cannas, which are exceed- 

 ingly showy and beautiful. The tubers are easily preserved 

 in any warm, medium-dry ^cellar, and are rapidly propagated 

 by division in March or April, each bud making a strong 

 plant. For those who have no greenhouses the windowbox 

 or a shallow box of soil placed behind the kitchen stove or in 

 a light, warm cellar will serve as a very good place in which to 

 propagate them. The tubers should be cut into single eyes 

 or buds, covered with 2 or 3 inches of rich, sandy soil, and 

 the temperature kept at about 65°, when they will quickly 

 start into growth and be ready for transplanting to the open 

 ground about June ist. In grouping cannas the best 

 results are obtained by placing varieties in groups, with as 

 great a contrast of foliage or color of flowers as possible; 

 the larger ones in the centre of the bed or group and the 

 smaller ones on the outside. Most of the leading florists 

 and seed- and plant-dealers now offer an abundance of 



