CANISTRUM 



164 



CANNA 



penetrating into the main stems. Clean pruning pre- 

 vents many evils. 



Another cause of canker may be traced to trees be- 

 coming stunted and bark-bound, and then started into 

 growth again by more liberal treatment. The use of 

 wire instead qf the soft woollen shreds for fixing trees 

 against walls is another cause; for as growth advances 

 the ties tighten, or the wind may cause the shoots to rub 

 against the wires. It has been attributed to over- 

 luxuriant growth. Soft wood i* more easily bruised ; other- 

 wise luxuriant growth, if it is sustained, should be a 

 preventative rather than a cause for canker, except in 

 cases of bad pruning, as referred to above. Trees or 

 plants which exude sap will heal up better if some warm, 

 dry sand is applied as soon as the cut is made. This, of 

 course, would not apply to fruit-trees and others with 

 hard, firm wood. 



Soil may also have much to do with causing canker. 

 A cold, wet sub-soil will induce late.'unripened growth, 

 and frost frequently injures or kills it. 



When it is apparent that canker arises from stunted 

 growth a good washing with soapy water, to which a 

 little paraffin is added, will soften the bark. In cases where 

 it is evident that it is caused through the wood dyeing 

 black, the branches should be cut back to where there is 

 no stain, or sign of decay in the stem. For bruises the 

 damaged portion may be cut away and some pitch put 

 over the wounds, or cow-dung and clay may be used. 



Root canker is caused by various worms and parasites 

 damaging the roots, and fungoid diseases soon spread 

 and cause further trouble. The liberal use of lime is one 

 of the best preventatives. 



The term canker is sometimes applied to the trouble 

 caused by Eelworms on the base of the stems of Cucumbers 

 and Melons, also to succulent plants when they show 

 signs of disease through being bruised or eaten by in- 

 sects. The older authorities adopted a wider application 

 of the word than is done by modern writers. Good soil 

 that has been well cleansed and laid up in ridges for 

 frost to penetrate is one great preventative both for 

 root and stem canker. 



CANI'STRUM. See ^CHMEA. 



CA'NNA. (The Celtic name for a cane or reed. Nat. 

 ord. Scitaminaceae.) 



Stove herbaceous perennials. Divisions of the root; 

 seed sown in hotbed ; rich, open, loamy soil. Summer 

 temp., 60 to 8p ; winter, 50 to 55. 



Indian Shot is a common name for the ordinary Canna 

 indica, on account of the round, hard seeds having been 

 used in place of the ordinary leaden shot. When well 

 ripened the seeds are almost as hard as iron. 



In the older dictionaries the Cannas are described as 

 stove herbaceous perennials, and were formerly grown 

 under glass ; but for some years past they have been 

 found to be among the most showy plants we have for 

 the flower garden. And in regard to hardiness it will be 

 fair to compare them with Dahlias ; for though frost will 

 have its effect on the foliage, the underground stems 

 may live through the winter with the protection of some 

 bracken, or other light material over them. It is, how- 

 ever, safer to take up the tubers and store them in a 

 similar way as Dahlias are treated. 



They are a great feature in many of the public parks 

 and gardens, both in this country and in America, and 

 they are also useful for greenhouse culture. Varieties 

 are numerous, and very greatly improved varieties have 

 been raised in recent years. The Royal Horticultural 

 Society have long given them special attention. In the 

 old Chiswick days they were well looked after, being 

 well grown in pots under glass, and also planted out ; 

 and more recently at Wisley, where in 1906 and 1907 

 upwards of 200 varieties were tested, and something 

 over fifty sorts have been selected for awards of merit, 

 or have been highly commended ; but this list would not 

 represent all that deserve the distinction, for some of 

 the best may not have been in flower at the time of 

 the inspection by the committee. Of sorts which were 

 selected as among the most free-flowering, those with 

 dark foliage included Dr. Marcus (orange-red) and Wm. 

 Saunders (deep red). Of those with light foliage Eliza- 

 beth Hoss (yellow spotted with red), Fiirst Wied (fiery 

 red), L. E. Bally (yellow spotted red), and Meteore (rich 

 orange). To these may be added Konigin Charlotte, 

 William Bofiuger, Paul Lorenz, Pillar of Fire, Hesperide, 



Juanita, Jean Tissot, General Merkel, Grossherzog, Ernst 

 Ludwig, Comte de Bouchard, Buttercup (the finest 

 yellow), Brandywine, Duke of York, Aurore, and Blanch 

 Wintzer. Of taller growing sorts Oscar Darmecker, 

 Mrs. Kate Gray, S. F. Wright, Karl Kirsten, and Hof- 

 garten-Director Wendland. The above all belong to 

 what are now termed the Gladiolus-flowered section, 

 but they chiefly originated from what were first known 

 as " Crozy Cannas" (Mme. Crozy being one of the first 

 of the large-flowered hybrids), but considerable improve- 

 ments have been made since. The varieties originated 

 by intercrossing C. iridiflora, C. Warszewiczii, and C. 

 glauca. It is stated in the R.H.S. report, January 1908, 

 that the first of these hybrids was raised fifty years ago, 

 yet it was considerably later that Madame Crozy, which 

 may be taken as the foundation of the showy flowered 

 varieties, was generally known. The first of the large- 

 flowered varieties that came under our notice was C. 

 iridiflora Ehemanni ; this gained a certificate in June 

 1880, but had been in cultivation for some time previous. 

 Then in 1893 we had what were known as the Orchid- 

 flowered varieties. These came from C. Madame Crozy 

 crossed with C. flaccida, and Austria and Italia were the 

 first and most distinct varieties ; these were of tall 

 growth. In later years there has been so much inter- 

 crossing that it is difficult to divide the varieties into 

 sections. In the R.H.S. list we find some included in 

 the Orchid-flowered section which might equally belong 

 to the Gladiolus, or Crozy section. 



Culture. The most ready means of increasing stock 

 of the named varieties is by divisions of the rhizomes, or 

 underground stems. If planted out in rich ground 

 during the summer they make strong growth. Taken up 

 and stored in the same manner as Dahlias, they may be 

 divided and potted up early in the year. It is the early 

 starting of strong crowns that ensures success ; good 

 loam with leaf-mould, and stable manure added, will en- 

 sure strong growth. Weak rhizomes are of no use for 

 flowering the same season, yet may be useful for growing 

 on to flower the next year. 



From Seed. We have experimented in various ways 

 with seed and find the best practice is to sow it as soon 

 as collected. And seed that does not appear to be fully 

 ripe will germinate quicker than the very hard, fully 

 ripe seeds. With the latter they should be soaked until 

 they swell, and a slight cut made to allow of the hard 

 shell to open. Seedlings must be kept in warmth and in 

 a growing condition through the winter. They may be 

 partially dried off after a good crown is formed. 



When grown under glass red-spider may be trouble- 

 some, also green-fly, but with the syringe and fumigating 

 there is little difficulty in keeping these troubles off. 



C. Achi'ras (Achiras). 5. Dark red. August. Isle of 



Mendoza. 1829. 

 angustifo'lia (narrow-leaved). 2. Scarlet. April. 



S. Amer. 1824. 



auranti'aca (orange). See C. LUTEA. 

 ca'rnea (flesh-coloured). 4. Flesh. December. 



Brazil. 1822. 



chine'nsis (Chinese). See C. ORIENTALIS. 

 cocci 'nea (scarlet). 2. Scarlet. December. S. Amer. 



i73i- 

 compa'cta (compact). 2. Red. April. E. Ind. 



1820. 



,, cro'cea (saffron-coloured). 2. Red. May. 1823. 

 curviflo'ra (curved-flowered). 4. Pale red. Central 



Amer. 



denuda'ta (naked). 2. Scarlet. June. Brazil. 1818. 

 latifo'lia (broad-leaved). 3. Red. May. Brazil. 



1818. 



di'scolor (two-coloured-leaved) . 10. Scarlet. Novem- 

 ber. Trinidad. 1827. 



edu'lis (eatable). 3. Red. September. Peru. i#2o. 

 Ehema'nni (Ehemann's). See C. IRIDIFLORA EHE- 



MANNI. 



escule'nta (esculent). See C. EDULIS. 



,, exce'lsa (lofty). 16. Scarlet. January. Brazil. 1820. 



Fintelma'nni (Fintelmann's). Trop. Amer. 



,, fla'ccida (weak). 5. Red. July. S. Carolina. 



1788. 

 gigante'a (gigantic). 5. Red, yellow. December. 



S. Amer. 1809. 

 ,, glau'ca (milky-green). 2. Yellow. January. W. 



Ind., Mexico. 1730. 



