342 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



soil, but in light ground it may be advisable to give a thick mulch 

 of cocoa-nut fibre refuse after thoroughly soaking the soil. If the 

 plants can be kept steadily at work until the foliage meets on the 

 bed, all fear of failure may be considered at an end. Flowers will 

 come, and will keep on coming in fact, there will be a steady 

 stream of lovely blossoms. But the culminating display will be 

 in the cool days of September, and (if frost permits) early October. 

 The plants will be laden with brilliant blossoms, and the bed will 

 be one of the sights of the garden. Fading flowers should be 

 picked off regularly throughout the season. 



The problem of wintering the plants is a much simpler one than 

 in the case of Geraniums, as they will lose their leaves and stems 

 by a process of natural decay. The tubers can be lifted, dried, and 

 stored in any dry, frost-proof place until spring. 



We do not think that it is necessary to go to the expense of 

 buying named varieties of Begonias for beds ; mixed tubers will 

 do; but, if desired, tubers can be bought in separate, distinct 

 colours, such as white, cream, blush, pink, rose, yellow, salmon, 

 buff, scarlet, crimson, and Picotee edged. 



CANNAS 



The Canna is a valuable bedding plant, and thrives under 

 practically the same treatment as Dahlias. The old-time Cannas 

 were tall, vigorous plants, and were grown at least as much for 

 their leaves as their flowers, being used in what was called sub- 

 tropical gardening. The modern varieties are in the main much 

 dwarfer, and with a reduction of leaf and stem growth there have 

 come larger heads of bloom, together with increased diversity of 

 colour. 



The newer dwarf Cannas, with their large spikes of brilliant 

 flowers, unquestionably make very fine beds. The foliage is broad 

 and handsome. In some varieties it is plain green, in others brown, 



