CULTURE OF FAVORITE PLANTS. 



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ANDSCAPES famous for "orgeous beauty have always abounded 

 in India, and of these there are but few in which the Canna (on this 

 account called Indica) does not form an indispensable contributor to 

 the loveliness of the prospect. This has become so universal a favorite, 

 that it is cultivated in all civilized countries; and helps to give a 

 semi-tropical appearance to many northern conservatories and gardens. 

 As ornaments for the parlor they are also very fine, and may be kept in good 

 condition the year round by proper care and attention. The genus belongs to 

 the Arrowroot family, but is not cultivated in this country for any nutritious 

 properties, the beauty of the foliage and the flowers having engrossed the whole 

 attention of cultivators. It might, however, be made a valuable food product. 

 Of late 3ears florists have produced a large number of new varieties, all of them pretty 

 and desirable. To grow Cannas large, they should have plenty of room in a good, rich, 

 deep soil, a loose, sandy loam being the ver^- best for the purpose. Soapsuds or other 

 liquid manure applied freely, say twice a week during warm weather, will be very accept- 

 able to the plants and reward the care-taker with a greater wealth of leaf and flower. 

 Those not wanted indoors for winter decoration can be lifted, with as much soil around 

 the roots as possible, and allowed to dry in that condition; when the drying process is 

 completed the tubers can bestowed awaj' in anv frost-free receptacle; the}' will bear a 

 considerable degree of cold, but contact with actual frost is ruinous. For winter decora- 

 tion it is best to use one or two side shoots of the old tuber, as they are just about to 

 sprout; they should be taken off in August and placed in a four-inch pot, changing them 

 to larger ones as they need more room. These plants grow from one to twelve or fifteen 

 feet in height, and vary in colors of foliage from the lightest shade of green to a very 

 dark bronze. The flowers are also of a great variety of shades. 



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LL through the ages much attention must have been paid to this 

 plant, or at least to the family to which it belongs, as we find that the 

 Pink, the primitive source of countless varieties, was known to the 

 Ancient Greeks as Dianthus, or Flower of Jove. And to this day the 

 varieties have been incessantly multiplied, the plant being eas}' of culture 

 and thriving in almost any fertile soil. The flowers are an acquisition to 

 bouquet makers, not only on account of their beauty, but for their clove-like or 

 spicy odor. They can be propagated from the seeds, but such are more uncertain in 

 quality of flower than those propagated from an old plant. Cuttings or slips can be 

 taken freel}- from the old plants, and should be cut at the joint so as in breaking 

 to leave a lounded end, or else be severed just below the joint. The slips should be 

 ' set in a crock, near the edge, as close together as desired, the sand being well pressed to 

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