The Canadian Horticulturist. 189 



enough to trust the plants out doors in this latitude. Cannas will thrive on not 

 too rich soil, if well watered. 



Taking care of the roots in winter is often a failure, owing to not under- 

 standing what conditions they require ; some rot them with water. They require 

 about the same treatment as a Dahlia root, viz. : take up the roots in October, 

 and, after letting them dry a few days, store away in a cellar, free from frost and 

 where the air contains some moisture, so that the roots can take up moisture out 

 of the air, and not the dry air take the moisture out of them ; kept near a heap 

 oif potatoes or other roots would be about the right place for them. The flowers 

 of the dwarf French class are similar to the Gladiolus, but excelling them in 

 brilliancy of color and markings. The newest addition in Cannas, " Queen 

 Charlotte," comes from Germany, a description of whidi I will read, as anything 

 better or more attractive than we already have in the French class, is worth 

 consideration : 



" This grand Canna was raised in Germany and sent out under the name 

 of ' Konigen Charlotte ' ; this we have changed to ' Queen Charlotte,' by which 

 name it would eventually be known in any case, Konigen being the German for 

 Queen. 



" From the first successful attempt to improve the Cannas, their future and 

 possibilities led all to anticipate what might be accomplished by continued and 

 intelligent effort toward improving them. 



" Hitherto we have been especially indebted to Mons. Crozy for enabling 

 us more vividly to realize these glorious possibilities, and after the introduction 

 of Mad. Crozy Canna, connoisseurs thought the culminating point of perfection 

 had been reached. But it is apparent from this that nature knows no limit, and 

 'Queen Charlotte,' the acknowledged Queen of Gilt-edged Cannas, affords 

 another example of those unexpected results which revolutionize theories and 

 mark an epoch in the history of successful hybridization. 



" When seen in groups, the brilliancy of ' Queen Charlotte ' dazzles the eye 

 with its brilliant scarlet-crimson, massy gold and rich orange-scarlet, separate 

 and distinct, yet blended as only Nature can blend and harmonize in her own 

 workshop and in her own way. The grand color effects produced can only be 

 conceived by actual observation, and but faintly expressed by the most minute 

 and accurate description ; the intense velvety crimson of the ground color, 

 melting through the massy gold bands which belt it round, reflects upon the eye 

 in different tints and tones, until ics defining power is lost in admiration of the 

 feast of crimson and gold presented to it. 



"As a pot plant for winter flowering, 'Queen Charlotte' has a brilliant 

 future, while for massing it needs no prophet to foretell that it will, before long, 

 be given first place in the flower garden of every park, cemetery and private 

 garden throughout the world." 



Some of the species are edible, being grown extensively in Peru and the 

 Sandwich Islands as a vegetable, from which we also obtain arrowroot — which 



