Canna 



( 169 ) 



Canna 



much charm in flower and foliage, these plants arc 

 unsurpassed for the decoration of greenhouses and 

 conservatories, and they are highly effective for 

 sub-tropical bedding in the summer. 



Propagation. --liy seeds and division of the roots 

 in the spring. The former method is generally 

 adopted for raising mixed varieties, but choice 

 named sorts are increased by root division. Sowings 

 may be made from January to March. The seeds are 

 so extremely hard that they germinate very slowly 

 unless assisted in this respect. The safest mode is 

 to soak the seed in boiling water for a few minutes 

 before sowing. Sow in well-drained pots filled 

 with light, sandy soil. Cover the seeds with J" of 

 soil, and stand in a temperature of from 70 to 75. 

 A'hen the seedlings appear, transfer them singly to 

 mall pots. The rootstocks of Cannas are vigorous, 

 find may be divided in the spring before growth 

 commences. Even small portions, furnished with 

 crowns and a few roots, will make plants. The 

 divisions should be placed in pots large enough for 

 their accommodation, and be plunged in a bed of 

 Cocoanut fibre refuse in a bottom heat of from 70 

 to 75. The divisions will also start freely in a 

 stove or warm greenhouse temperature. If wanted 

 for bedding, the plants should be grown steadily 

 till May, and then be hardened off, and planted 

 out early in June. 



Soil.- Cannas are gross feeding plants, ami a 

 suitable compost for pots is formed of equal parts 

 of turfy loam and thoroughly decayed cow manure, 

 with a little fibrous peat or leaf mould, and a free 

 scattering of sand. The position of plants out- 

 doors should be warm and sheltered, with a good 

 depth of rich soil and plenty of moisture. 



Plants in Pots. The Gladiolus-flowered forms, 

 being dwarf, are the most suitable for growing in 

 t>" and 7" pots, and the Orchid-flowered varieties 

 for 8" or larger. After the plants have made a 

 good start in a warm temperature, they should be 

 repotted as required, and be placed in a cool house 

 for flowering. Water liberally during the growing 

 period, and when the flower spikes appear feed tin- 

 plants with liquid manure. In the autumn, when 

 they show signs of resting,gradually withhold water. 

 and keep the plants in a semi-dry state through 

 the winter in a temperature of from 45 to 50. 



Plants Outdoors. Given a suitable soil and 

 situation, Cannas are more effective than the 

 general run of bedding plants, and the dwarf 

 hybrids are particularly attractive, lasting in good 

 condition till late in the autumn. Some of the 

 species make rich masses of graceful foliage, and 

 are useful for associating with flowering plants to 

 give variety. The dwarf, flowering hybrids are 

 effective in beds, either in conjunction with other 

 plants or grown alone. They may also be dotted 

 about herbaceous borders with advantage. They 

 require plenty of moisture, and watering and 

 mulching are beneficial in dry weather. To winter 

 them safely, take up the roots in the autumn, with 

 soil attached, and store them in a semi-dry con- 

 dition in a cool greenhouse, dry cellar, or outhouse, 

 where they can be kept free from lYn>:. 



Select Varieties : 



Beautiful flowers may be obtained from the 

 seeds which are offered of dwarf and tall growing 

 hybrids, and novelties in the way of choice named 

 varieties are continually being brought out. The 

 following selection includes some of the best in 

 cultivation : 



li'luditilits-JImrcrcd : 



Ami J. Chretien, chestnut 



roil, grn. foliage. 

 Aurore, blight red, grn. 



foliage. 

 Bcuute Poitevine, red, 



grn. foliage, 



<';qiri, salmon sc., glau- 

 cous foliage. 

 Cointe do Bouchaud, yel., 



spotted red, grn. foliage. 

 Duchess of York, yel., 



spotted red, dark grn. 



foliage. 

 Duke of Marlborougli, 



maroon, grn. foliage. 

 Flamingo, red, very fine. 

 Germauia, reddish crim., 



edged yel., large, gru. 



foliage. 



Ischia, sulphur, bright 



grn. foliage. 

 Kaiser Wilhelm II., sc., 



grn. foliage. 

 Kbm'gin Charlotte, bright 



Tef, edged gold. 

 Lutetia, yel. ( spotted red, 



glaucous foliage. 

 Madame Crozy, ver., 



edged gold, gru. foliage. 

 Meuelik, reddish crim., 



grn. foliage. 

 Minerva, cinnabar red, 



large, dark gm. foliage. 

 Paul Bruant, or. red, gm. 



foliage. 

 Sultana, yel., ver. spots, 



glaucous foliage. 



r 



: ciiaitM 0; Cmymy, LM. 

 CAXNA GKAF HEKZOO ERNST LUDWIG VON HESSEX. 

 (Colour, orange crimson.) 



Italian, or Orp/iid- Ffon-eretl : 

 Africa, sc., golden inside, 



pur. and grn. foliage. 

 Alemanuia, sc., bordered 



yel., gru. foliage. 

 America, sc., or., dark 



foliage. 

 Australia, salmon red, 



striped yel., grn. and br. 



foliage. 

 Austria, canary, dotted 



br., light grn. foliage. 

 Burbankii, yel., grn. fol. 

 Ch. Naudin, red sahnc.n, 



grn. foliage. 

 Kdoimrd Andre, fiery red, 



or. yel. spots. 

 11. Wcndliind, sr., yd. 



border, very large, grn. 



foliage. 



Heinrich Seidel, red, yel. 



border, spotted pur. 

 Italia, or. sc., yel. margin, 



grn. foliage. 

 Pandora, red, gold., pur. 



and grn. foliage. 

 Portenope, or., shaded 



yel., broad grn. foliage. 

 Pho-be, sulphur, spotted 



car. 

 Pluto, red, flamed or., 



bron/y red foliage. 

 Professor Trent, or. red, 



splashed yel., pur. red 



foliage. 

 Suebia, canary, shaded 



bronze. 

 \Vilhi-hn Beck, sulphur 



yel., sc. pencillings. 



