88 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



May, 



Remarkable Canna: 

 Ehemanni. 



The haudsonie engraving of Canna Ehemanni 

 which we present on this page, can after all 

 give but an impei-fect idea of this magnificent 

 plant and its flower. The flowers are shown at 

 about one-half of their natural size, being about 

 three inches long and two inches wide. They 

 are of a magnificent glowing crimson color, 

 and may be used to advantage in bouquet mak- 

 ing, being singularlj- rich in appeaiance. 



We take especial interest in calling the at- 

 tention of our readers to this recent plant ; first, 

 because of its great superiority, and second, be- 

 cause, in common with all Cannas, it is very 

 easilj' growm. It is (luite distinct in appearance 

 from all other Cannas, its rich green tropical 

 foliage resembling the Musaor Banana. 



Its greatest merit, however, lies perhaps in 

 the flowers, which are nearly as large as, and 

 more attractive than, the finest Gladiolus 

 blooms. They are produced in masses on the 

 summit of whip-like stalks, single plants hav- 

 ing seven or eight stalks, with a score or more 

 of flowers on each. 



One remarkable quality of this plant is that, 

 after flowei-ing in summer, the roots can be 

 lifted, and will bloom all winter in the conser- 

 vatory, and perhaps in the 

 house. During a recent visit 

 to the Government Botanic 

 Gardens, at Washington, we 

 met this plant in bloom in 

 the midst of numerous flow- 

 ering exotics, in the temper- 

 ate house, and were pleased 

 to see that the flowers even 

 here, were in general at- 

 tractiveness, equaled by few, 

 and excelled by no others in 

 the collection. 



It may be said of the cid- 

 ture of Cannas in general, 

 that they grow with the 

 greatest vigor, either as pot 

 plants or bedded in the 

 garden, and produce a stately 

 tropical efl'ect, with their 

 broad massive foliage and 

 beautiful flowers, with little 

 care. There is only one 

 thing to be particular about 

 in managing them, and that 

 is to provide a rich soil and 

 plenty of water and then 

 they will produce astonish- 

 ing results. The Canna is 

 freely propagated by di- 

 vision of the root at plant- 

 ing time. During the winter 

 the roots should be kept in 

 dry sand in a cellar, frost- 

 proof room, or under the 

 bench in the conservatory. 

 Bulbs of the Ehemanni 

 variety may now be 

 bought of all the leading plantmen at half a 

 dollar or less a piece. Those who give the 

 plant a trial can hardly f aU to be gratified with 

 their investment in it. 



Carpeting Gladiolus and Lily Beds. 



Our correspondent S. L. W., of Chicago, III, 

 instead of cultivating the surface of his Gladi- 

 olus and Lily beds, sets out some interesting 

 low-growing plants to keep the ground covered. 

 We think this is a plan worth trying and gladly 

 give space to his account of the com^e taken : 

 — After having properly set out the Gladiolus 

 bulbs, I plant over them Otiiuitna ri-(issifolia, 

 close enough to cover the ground by the time 

 the Gladiolus get half grown. Linanit ci/jji- 

 hahiriri will answer the .same end and spreads 

 very rapidly; both these plants cover the 

 ground with a nice gi'een carpet figured 

 abundantly with small flowers. Such a carpet 

 adds considerably to the beauty of the bed and 



Canna , at the same time answers as a mulching for the 



Gladiolus, with benefit I think. 



I take the same course with my Lily bed, but 

 here use the hardy Araliia iiplina with its fra- 

 grant white flowers. In early spring this plant 

 covers the ground close and I find under such 

 a coat the Lilies grow and flower to perfection. 



The Tritelia and Lobster Cactus. A 

 Vermont Sister's Experience. 



Mrs. M. De Pouter, of New Haven, Vt., 

 rightly says that the sisters of our family are 

 to blame if they do not keep up an interesting 

 gardening correspondence through this, their 

 medium. So she briefly gives her experience, 

 with two of her favorites, about which we 

 were very glad to leai'n. 



FINE canna: CANNA EHEMANNI. 



"I had a gift of a Trildin iinijiind la.st fall, 

 the name of which implies solitary flowers. It 

 was new to me. I watched it closely, and judge 

 of my surprise when the first bud opened, it 

 developed into two sweet star like flowers. All 

 the others of which there were six, were 

 solitary. 



"^Vhat a pleasure it is to watch a new plant 

 bud and bloom. I have a Lobster Cactus that 

 blossomed as usual in the fall, is in bloom again 

 now, and more buds coming, I never have had 

 one do so well before. Some look upon the care 

 of flowers as work, to me it is a great pleasure, 

 I hope to hear from some of the other sisters 

 soon." 



fusion that prevails in the names and synonyms 

 of Vegetables at the present time. 

 j Careful tests and compai'isons made last year 

 on the State Farm, with seeds procured from 

 leading dealers, go to show that in numerous 

 instances the same variety is sold under many 

 different names by the different seedsmen. For 

 this, the seedsmen themselves are largely to 

 blame, through the too common practice of 

 associating names of their own devising, along 

 with standard sorts. 



Just how far this evil has progressed, may 

 be seen for one thing in the case of the French 

 Horn Carrot. This Carrot is now offered and 

 sold under no less than a dozen different names, 

 in the same number of catalogues. A planter 

 might make a selection of French Horn CaiTot 

 from one catalogue, of the Early French Scar- 

 let Forcing from another, 

 Eai-ly Forcing Horn from 

 another. Early Frame from 

 another. Early Short Scarlet 

 from another, and so on 

 through a dozen or more 

 catalogues, naturally enough 

 thinking, he was getting as 

 many different Carrots as 

 the number of those names 

 would indicate. But when 

 further along his crop would 

 show only one and the same 

 sort in all of these, then it 

 would verj- likely dawn upon 

 his mind that he was the 

 victim of a great wrong, 

 somewhere. And this cer- 

 tainly would be true. In 

 the case of garden Peas this 

 multiplicity of synonyms, is 

 fuUy as bad, while no leading 

 vegetable is free from the 

 trouble. 



It is evident that here is 

 room for a great reform. 

 That the work of effecting 

 this, as referred to, is in good 

 hands, no one will question. 

 But it can only go on to the 

 best results through the 

 agreement of those who sell 

 seeds, coupled with the vol- 

 untary efforts of some such 

 unbiased growers as those 

 of the Experimental Sta- 

 tions. We trust that by 

 this time all dealei-s and 

 growers begin to realize the 

 folly of and the actual hin- 

 drance there is to gardening 

 interests existing in this 

 confusion. We trust also 

 that they will render the aid 

 which easily lies in their 

 power to assist the institu- 

 tion referred to, in its 

 praiseworthy efforts to go 

 on and establish a true nomenclatm'e and 

 description of vegetables. 



The Confusion of Names. 



The Directors of the New York Experimental 

 Station at Geneva, have taken upon themselves 

 a task for which the}' are entitled to the thanks 

 of all gardeners. We refer to the large and 

 difficult work of straightening out the con- 



Sweet Potato Culture. 



From the latter part of May, to July 4th, the 

 rooted Sweet Potato sprouts should be trans- 

 planted to the field or garden. Break the land 

 thorouglily, but not necessarily deep; low, 

 level and damp lands will not do; high, di-y, 

 mellow or loamy soils are best, and the'fresher 

 the better. Lay off rows three and a half to 

 four feet apart, and in these furrows, apply 

 two to four hundred pounds of ammoniated 

 superphosphate, containing potash, per acre. 

 If home-made manure is used, be sure that it 

 is old and thoroughly decomposed, and if possi- 

 ble mix some ashes and acid phosphate with it. 

 Cover this furrow by nmning on each side of 

 it with a one-hoi"se turn plow, thus making a 

 naiTow ridge, on which plant the slips eighteen 

 inches apart; keep clean of weeds and gra-ss 



