BUDS, BLOOM, AND EARLY BIRD 



special named varieties which are exhibited by florists Feb. 

 quite true to type from seed, but that is only a calamity ^~'^A 

 from the point of view of the specialist ; it does not 

 attain to the dimensions of a national disaster, such as is 

 caused by the complete collapse of a great flower. 



The seeds of Cannas are as large as Peas, round, 

 smooth, and extremely hard. The excessive induration 

 has given them the name of " Indian Shot," and it 

 militates against rapid germination. The process may 

 be hastened by soaking the seeds in water for a night 

 before sowing, and also by giving them a bottom heat 

 of 65° to 70°. The latter would tend to make the plants 

 tender, but there is no difficulty in hardening them, as 

 standing them in an unheated frame for two or three 

 weeks before planting them out will serve that purpose. 

 By sowing early in February, plants can be had in 

 bloom in the garden the same year. The flowers are 

 as brilliant as Gladioli, and in rich, deep, moist soil the 

 foliage is of great beauty. Plants may be increased by 

 suckers also (see Fig. 25). 



Indian Pinks. — Every member of the great genus 

 Dianthus has its admirers, and when we remember that 

 it embraces the Carnation, the White Cottage Pink, and 

 the Sweet William, we realise its great value and im- 

 portance. The "Indian" Pink is the Dianthus Chin- 

 ensis of botanists, and it came to us from China, not 

 from India, as far back as 1713. The original species 

 had a red flower, but the plant proved to have that 

 precious quality of variability on which florists have 

 worked so successfully. One may now get several 

 colours by buying mixed seed, and also a dwarfer strain 

 than the type, with equal beauty of flower. But I am 

 not sure that the most valuable strain of Indian Pink 

 is not that known to botanists as Dianthus Heddewigii, 

 69 



