THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



in soap suds as warm as the hands 

 can bear. — this will destroy the young 

 that are too minute to be seen with the 

 naked eye. Every such washing should 

 be followed, after an hour, with a 

 douche of clean water 



As regards airing the plants, it is per- 

 haps sufficient to say that what in this 

 respect is healthful for human lungs will 

 suit the plants. But do not forget that 

 the plants cannot take a walk on a 

 pleasant day, hence fresh air should 

 frequently be admitted to them from the 

 window. 



In nature all trees and plants have 

 their season of growth and of rest, a 

 principle that must be observed in house 



plant culture. When therefore any 

 plant, after a period of growth and 

 bloom, shows signs of lessening growth, 

 water also should be somewhat with- 

 held. In a state of rest from growth 

 most kinds can get along with lessened 

 light also, and this we may take advan- 

 tage of, by putting such kinds as 

 fuchsias, oleanders, hydrangeas and 

 scarlet geraniums in a light cellar, while 

 growth is suspended. Almost without 

 exception it is best as the end of the 

 resting season approaches, say late in 

 winter, to shake the old soil from the 

 roots and re-pot the plants into fresh 

 earth. — Vick's Magazine. 



NEW CANNAS. 



Dear Sir, — In looking over my notes 

 on the newer Cannas, I am reminded of 

 my promise to you of a report on them. 

 I confess that I am at a loss what to say 

 and do justice to them, and at the same 

 time express fairly my opinion. There 

 are too many varieties before the public, 

 and too few good ones. We in America 

 are too free to condemn the want of dis- 

 tinctiveness among the new continental 

 varieties, but on the other hand are con- 

 stantly introducing replicas of those long 

 superseded, or with variations so slight 

 as to require critical comparison, in or- 

 der to distinguish the actual difference. 



The greatest lack of value and quality 

 is in the dark foliage section, which I 

 regard as most valuable for contrast in 

 bedding, against a background of lawn 

 or shrubbery. Lack of substance and 

 vitality in the tuber, are strong points 

 against most of the varieties in general 

 use. 



The past season was a most trying 

 one, for which due allowance must be 

 made. 



While the enormous flowers of the 

 new Italian hybrids are too frail to stand 

 much of our bright sun and high winds, 

 they should certainly be in every collec- 

 tion, for the sake of the few hours they 

 afford striking contrast to the massive 

 foliage peculiar to this section. 



Without repeating catalogue detail, I 

 give first choice to Alemannia, America, 

 Baronne de Poilly, Hortense, Barbereau, 

 Mile Berat. 



For second, — Africa, Aphrodite, Asia, 

 Burbank, Beaute Poitevina, Directeur 

 Roelz, Francois Billard, Franz Buch- 

 ner, Leonard Lille, L. P. Lehalleur, 

 Madagascar, Paul Lorenz, Roi des Rou- 

 ges, Souv de Jeanne Chaure, Souv de 

 Mme Crozy. 



Instead of noting the third, in which 

 we can feel little interest, the following 

 older varieties are most desirable : — A. 

 Bouvier, Austria, Comte de Bouchaud, 

 Chicago, Columbia, Etendard, Eldorado, 

 Furst Bismarck, F. Vaughan, F. L. Har- 

 ris, Italia, Mme Crozy, Mme A. Bouiver, 

 Mme Montefiore, Papa Canna, P. J. 



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