12 Subtropical Gardening. 



just as we place sprigs of graceful fern in a bouquet. A bed or two 

 here and there solely devoted to them will, of course, prove very 

 effective ; but enormous meaningless masses of them, containing 

 perhaps several hundred plants of one variety, are things to avoid 

 and not to imitate. As to culture and propagation nothing can 

 be more simple : they may be stored in winter as readily as potatoes, 

 under shelves in the houses, in the root-room, or, in fact, anywhere 

 covered up from the influences of frost. And then in spring, when 

 we desire to propagate them, nothing is easier than pulling the 

 roots in pieces, and potting them separately. Afterwards it is 

 usual to bring them on in heat, and finally harden them off pre- 

 vious to planting out; but some modification of this practice is 

 desirable, as some kinds are of a remarkably hardy constitution, and 

 make a beautiful growth if put out without so much as a leaf. 



In rambling through an obscure part of Paris one evening, I 

 encountered a tuft of Canna springing up strongly through and 

 around a box-edging pretty good evidence that it had remained 

 there for some years. Upon inquiry of the proprietor of the garden 

 I found this was the case, and that he had no doubt of the hardiness 

 of several other kinds. How deep were they planted ? Not more 

 than eight or ten inches. When we consider that the Cannas are 

 amongst the most valuable plants we use for giving grace and verdure 

 to the flower garden, this surely is worthy of being acted upon. 

 Considering their diversity of colour and size, their graceful pointed 

 habit and facility of propagation, we must concede them the first 

 place, but their capability of being used by anybody who grows 

 ordinary bedding plants, and the fact, that they may be preserved 

 so very easily through the winter enhances their value still more. 

 The following are among the best of the hardiest kinds: 

 C. Annaei, musaefolia, gigantea, limbata Warscewiczii, nigricans, 

 and zebrina. Of course they will prove equally hardy with us. 

 As it is desirable to change the arrangements as much as possible 

 every year, it may not be any advantage to leave them in the 

 ground, and in that case they may be taken up with the bedding 

 plants, and stored as simply and easily as carrots, parsnips, or 



