IN THE FRONT YARD. 251 



They multiply rapidly. One root may have 15 or 

 20 divisions. You separate, these and plant about the 

 first of May or earlier perhaps, as it takes some time 

 for them to come up. It is sometimes difficult to keep 

 the roots. Of course being tropical plants, they never 

 get ripe. They are always killed down by the frost and 

 of course the roots are green. If they get too dry they 

 do not like it, and if too wet they will rot. You must 

 watch them and perhaps bring them out and air them 

 on mild days in winter. They are much harder to 

 keep than the dahlia, which you can treat as you would 

 potatoes. I have received the latter when almost en- 

 tirely dried up, but they would grow all right. Cannas 

 should be planted four or five inches deep in very rich 

 ground. Put them about 18 inches or two feet apart. 

 They must have rich ground as they are rank feeders. 

 If very dry you had better mulch heavily if you can- 

 not water them. 



RAISING FROM SEED. 



This is an easy matter. Some will put seeds in a 

 pot and start them early. I have planted, however, in 

 the open in the latter part of April and had blooms 

 of marvelous beauty and heavy roots the first year. 

 Some were fully up to many of the named sorts. Some 

 were fiery scarlet, others were red and gold, some yel- 

 low and highly freckled— in short there was a menag- 

 erie of beauty and a perfect surprise of loveliness. 



The seeds are very hard. I brought water to the 

 boiling point and then took it off a few moments to 



