526 



Gardening for Amateurs 



(Banna, or Indian Shot 



WHEN first introduced to our gar- 

 dens the Canna was grown for 

 the sake of its handsome foliage, 

 which was valued alike in the conserva- 

 tory and for beds out of doors. During 

 the last twenty-five years florists, especially 

 on the Continent, have taken pains to render 

 the Canna valuable as a flowering plant, with 

 the result that the best of the present-day 

 sorts have not only ornamental foliage, but 

 handsome blossoms also. The best sorts 

 are of dwarf growth and free-blooming, while 

 the flowers are large, richly and variously 

 coloured. It is little wonder that the Canna 

 has made rapid strides in popularity for 

 both greenhouse decoration and summer 

 bedding. Owing to its richly -coloured flowers 

 and easy cultivation the Canna is sometimes 

 described as "The Poor Man's Orchid." 

 The popular name of Indian Shot is derived 

 from the appearance and character of the 

 seeds, which are large, black and hard. 



Increasing the Ganna. The plants are 

 increased by division of the rhizomes or 

 clumps of roots and by seeds. From January 

 to March is the best time to sow the seeds ; 

 as these are extremely hard it is desirable 

 to soak the seeds for twelve hours in warm 

 water previous to sowing, otherwise germina- 

 tion is often very slow. A second method is 

 to file or chip off a small portion of the hard 

 black outer coat with a sharp knife, taking 

 care in so doing not to injure the growing 

 point. The seeds must be covered with 

 about | inch of sandy soil. Place the seeds 

 when sown in a warm greenhouse or propaga- 

 ting frame, or on a hotbed. When once they 

 germinate seedling Cannas grow away rapidly 

 and soon need to be potted singly in 2J-inch 

 or 3 J -inch wide pots. 



When Cannas are grown for summer 

 bedding, and good plants are required for 

 planting outside early in June, the roots 

 should be started into growth during March. 

 It is much better to divide the rhizomes when 

 growth has commenced than when they are 

 dormant. An old table-knife is useful with 

 which to cut up the rhizomes or roots ; each 

 growth may be potted up singly into 3|-inch 



pots, or if large specimens are required 

 several growths should be potted together 

 in larger pots. About the first week in May 

 shift the plants into larger pots, using rich 

 soil. 



In the greenhouse or conservatory it is 

 quite easy to maintain a succession of Canna 

 flowers throughout the year if a minimum 

 temperature of about 55 is available in 

 winter. To do this propagation must be 

 carried on throughout the year, the plants 

 being potted up at intervals of about a month. 

 Here again it will depend on the size of plants 

 required whether the growths are potted up 

 singly or several together. Plants with a 

 single growth will flower well in a 6-inch 

 wide pot, those having two growths need a 

 7-inch, those having three growths an 8-inch 

 pot, and so on. 



Cannas delight in rich soil, which may 

 consist of three parts loam, one part leaf- 

 mould, one part old manure from a spent 

 hotbed or mushroom bed, a free sprinkling 

 of coarse sand, and wood ashes. If no 

 manure is available use a little guano or 

 Clay's Fertilizer. When growing freely 

 Cannas need liberal supplies of water, to 

 which may also be added liquid manure ; 

 though when potted the plant may have 

 only one or two growths, others will soon 

 appear. If large flower spikes are required 

 most of the shoots must be removed ; the 

 best of them may be potted to form new 

 plants if necessary. It is worth while 

 standing the pots in saucers filled with water 

 during the summer ; Cannas are very thirsty 

 plants, and the adoption of this plan saves 

 much watering. 



Cannas Out of Doors. Cannas should 

 not be planted in exposed and cold positions. 

 Rather choose a sunny yet sheltered spot. 

 Dig the soil deeply, working in leaf-mould 

 and decayed manure. Cannas form admir- 

 able plants for tubs, and might with ad- 

 vantage be more often used for this purpose. 



Lifting and Storing the Roots for 

 winter must be done as soon as frosts damage 

 the leaves in autumn. As a rule enough soil 

 adheres to the roots to enable them to be 



