The Canadian Horticulturist. 



6i 



THE CANNA 



INCE we have decided upon sending out a certain number 

 of Cannas to those of our readers wishing an ornamental 

 plant, it will not be out of place to give a few lines regard- 

 ing it, written by our friend, Mr. H. N. Groff, of Simcoe, 

 who, in his spare hours from banking, is making a special 

 study of the Canna and Gladiolus. He says : 



These peerless plants are without question the finest we 

 have for summer bedding, their rich tropical foliage and 



brilliant flowers are indispensable for lawn decoration. They flower the whole 



season in the open ground, and when potted make grand house and conservatory 



plants, giving masses of flowers all the year with slight winter heat. 

 Their musa-like foliage, in various 



shades of green and bronzy-purple, 



affords a striking contrast to the en- 

 ormous spikes of flowers of every shade 



in scarlet, yellow, crimson and orange, 



including blotchings, spots and borders 



in great variety. The size of their 



flowers been wonderfully improved dur- 

 ing the past few years ; due chiefly to 



the labors of M. Crozy, the eminent 



French hybridizer, until among the 



new introductions many are fully six 



inches across. The Canna is bound 



to take the lead in tropical bedding^ 



massed or in borders, as a back-ground 



for other plants, for which purpose they 



have no equal in our climate. 



Plant after danger from frost, in well 



enriched soil, watering freely in the 



evening of hot dry days, and they will 



bloom from June until cut down by the late frosts ; after which cut off stalks 



.vithin four inches of the ground, store the clumps as lifted, in sand, in a warm 



dry place, water slightly at intervals during winter. Divide in early spring and 



start in pots or boxes. 



Fig. 914— Can'ka. 



