886 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



CANNA 



spring, as they are then more easily 

 transmitted without any soil adhering to 

 them. During the winter months they 

 are perfectly safe under a stage in the 

 greenhouse or even in cellars or other 

 places where Dahlia roots are stored from 

 the frost. They may be potted in early 

 spring and started into growth in a little 

 heat and moisture, and when fairly well 

 furnished with leaves may be moved to 

 cooler quarters so as to be hardy enough 

 to plant out by the end of May. Where 

 the convenience of a greenhouse does not 

 exist the rootstoeks may be planted out in 

 May where they are to bloom. In the 

 south and other favourable parts of the 

 country it is not absolutely necessary to 

 take the roots up every autumn, but in 

 such cases it is much safer to protect them 

 with litter. 



After planting, especially in the case 

 of roots that have not been started in heat, 

 the sou may be covered with a layer of 

 short weU-rotted manure or the remains 

 of an old mushroom bed, and given a 

 thorough good soaking with water. This 

 treatment will enable the plants to become 

 established more quickly and stimulate 

 their growth. In hot dry summers the 

 plants can hardly have too much water, 

 and wherever clean luxuriant foliage and 

 trusses of brUhant flowers are required, 

 watering should on no account be 

 neglected. It is best given in the even- 

 ing, and about twice a week a soaking 

 with liquid manure will be beneficial 

 when the plants are growing vigor- 

 ously. 



Cannas are easily increased by seeds 

 and by dividing the rootstoeks. The 

 latter operation is best performed in 

 spring when the roots are to be started 

 into growth in the greenhouse or planted 

 out. Each bud or shoot carefully de- 

 tached wiU make a new plant and the 

 operation is easily performed with com- 

 mon sense and a sharp knife. "Where 

 choice and rare varieties exist, this is the 

 best way to increase them. 



Seeds may be sown in heat in early 

 spring and when large enough to handle 

 may be grown on in pots for the first 

 season so as to make good plants for the 

 outdoor garden the following season. 

 The seeds being very hard sometimes 

 take rather a long time to sprout. If 

 soaked for 24 hours in warm water, or for 

 several days in tepid water, before sowing, 

 germination will be facilitated thereby. 



owing to the outer seed-coat being more 

 or less softened. 



Hybrid Cannas of the present day are 

 among the most ornamental and useful 

 plants for the outdoor garden during the 

 summer months. They produce not oiily 

 large and beautiful flowers, but have also 

 a graceful habit and beautifully tinted 

 large and luxuriant foUage which lends 

 a sub-tropical air to the garden. Grown 

 in masses or groups by themselves on 

 the lawn, or near the edges of lakes or 

 streams, or even in thin borders or 

 shrubberies, they have a most picturesque 

 appearance. When in beds on grass, the 

 less showy flowering kinds may have 

 large-flowered Gladiolus brenchleyensis 

 or Lemoinei hybrids (see pp. 949, 951) 

 mixed with them, as I have seen in Paris, 

 and the effect when the Gladioh are in 

 bloom is very charming. 



As there is a good deal of variation in 

 regard to height, it is advisable when 

 planting Cannas not to mix tall and dwarf 

 varieties indiscriminately. The taller 

 varieties should naturally occupy the 

 centre of groups, and so as not to appear 

 too crowded when fully grown should be 

 planted about 3 ft. apart. The outer rows 

 of dwarfer kinds may be 18-24 in. apart, 

 those on the extreme edge being closer 

 together than the others. As a rule too 

 many varieties should not be planted 

 together imless due attention is paid to 

 the coloration of the foliage, which is 

 rather an important point for effect, and 

 the best results are to be obtained by 

 having the varieties separate or not more 

 than 2 or 3 judiciously mixed. 



The following is a short hst of the 

 best garden Cannas grown at present, 

 but it must be borne in mind that new 

 varieties are constantly appearing, and 

 many mentioned below wiU a few years 

 hence probably be unknown. They are 

 arranged according to the predominating 

 colours, but there are often streaks, 

 blotches, or edgings of other colours. 



Large-flovirered Cannas with green 

 foliage 



Red and scarlet shades. — Admiral 

 Gerva/is, Aigrette, Alexandre Billiard, 

 Alphonse Bouvier, Ami Pichon, 

 Argos, Battle Standard, BeaiM Poite- 

 vine, Bellona, Berthal, Bonfire, Cli. 

 Henderson, Ch. Van Geert, Ohevreul, 

 Colonel Chard, Columbia, Coltmibus, 

 Dragon, Duhe of Torlt, E. Milme- 



