BEDDING PLANTS. 53 



each should be saved, keeping it until wanted for sowing, without 

 bursting the seed vessels. 



Begonia corallina is undoubtedly the best of all the shrubby Bego- 

 nias for outdoor use. The larger the specimens when put out the finer 

 the display. Small plants in 3-ineh pots must necessarily make fresh 

 growths from the root, in order to attain one or two feet in height, and 

 in doing this the best part of the Summer is spent; but large, healthy 

 specimens will break freely into growth from the old wood and produce 

 myriads of bright red flowers. An abundant supply of propagating 

 material can be secured from out-door plants just before freezing 

 weather. Old plants will hibernate in boxes under the bench of a mod- 

 erately warm house. 



BELLIS PERENNIS— The best kinds of double daisies are perpetuated 

 by dividing the plants after blooming, but in many parts of the country 

 these plants do not survive tiot weather. Seeds should be sown during 

 September, and the plants Wintered in a frame. 



BROWALLIA ELATA — A blue-flowered 'annual species, may be sown 

 where it is to bloom. In this locality the numerous varieties are hardy 

 annuals. 



B. speciosa may either be raised from cuttings or seeds. When 

 grown cool both are good Winter blooming plants for the conservatory. 



CANNAS — The first lot of rhizomes intended for bedding purposes 

 should be started during the first part of February. These should be 

 the tinest kinds and those which it is desired to increase, because even 

 the smallest pieces having one dormant point, started early, will make 

 plants large enough to occupy 5-inch pots by the time for planting out. 

 Leave as much of the rhizome to each point as possible, as it will send 

 out new growths from the dormant buds between the scales. In the 

 formation of the rhizomes scales are first formed entirely encircling the 

 rhizome, which, as it reaches the light, gradually elongate until true 

 leaves are formed. The main crop may be gone over during the first 

 half of March. Cut up the rhizomes into pieces small enough, so that 

 when the time comes for potting, each piece will fill a 5-inch pot. Before 

 potting they should be put in material which will encourage the forma- 

 tion of roots, and the best for this purpose is sphagnum, sand and rotted 

 cow manure in equal parts. When the rhizomes are potted without 

 roots they always turn out unsatisfactory. Some start immediately 

 but the majority remain dormant, and take up valuable space for too 

 long a time. Use boxes to start the rhizomes; place a couple of inches 

 of the material in the bottom, put the pieces on this and cover with at 

 least one inch of the rooting medium. Water only sparingly at first; as 

 the growths push up give full exposure to the light. 



Varieties— It is only a very few years since the principal feature of 

 the Canna was its foliage, the blooms being small and comparatively 

 insignificant. Within the last decade the development of the flower has 

 been very marked. The beginning was made in Europe, and from the 

 first of the improved forms numerous fine varieties have been raised in 

 America, so that now anyone can take a few good flowered sorts, pol- 



