Chapter TWELVE 



Ornamental jfoltage plants from 



Canna (Indian Shot) 



ALL Cannas the gorgeous orchid-flow- 

 ered, as well as the old-fashioned sorts 

 can be easily and cheaply grown 

 from seed and will give blossoming 

 plants almost as soon as those started 

 from bulbs. When one must buy plants and the fine 

 new varieties are desired, the starting of an eight- or 

 ten-foot bed is a matter for economical consideration. 

 Five or six dollars is as little as one can expect to pay 

 for such a bed if plants are purchased, but by starting 

 the seed the cost is reduced to a mere bagatelle. It 

 is better to buy seed by the ounce, as not all will come 

 up, and one should make sure of a sufficient quantity. 

 The seed must be filed on the end opposite the germ, 

 so that the white shows through plainly, and the best 

 way to do it is to tack a piece of medium sand-paper 

 to a piece of wood and rub the seed on that. It is 

 better to do this before they are wanted, as it is a 



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