244 LANDSCAPE GAKDENING. 



great variety of blossoms, especially the new strains of the 

 French and hybrid cannas, which are exceedingly showy and 

 beautiful. The tubers are easily preserved in any warm, 

 dry cellar, and are rapidly propagated by division in March 

 or April. For those who have no greenhouses the window- 

 box or a shallow box of soil placed behind the kitchen 

 stove or in a light, warm cellar will serve a very good place 

 in which to propagate them. The tubers should be cut 



FIG. 142. CASTOR-BEAN (Ricinus communis). 



into single eyes or buds, covered with 2 or 3 inches of rich, 

 sandy soil, and the temperature kept at about 65, when 

 they will quickly start into growth and be ready for trans- 

 planting to the open ground about June 1st. In grouping 

 cannas the best results are obtained by placing varieties 

 side by side, with as great a contrast of foliage or color of 

 flowers as possible; the larger ones in the centre of the bed 



