SUBTROPICAL PLANTS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN. 193 



require all sorts of awkward protection at that season ; but 

 the Cannas last in good trim till the borders must be cleared. 

 All sheltered positions, places near warm walls, and nice 

 snugly-warmed dells, are capital positions for them. They 

 are generally used in great ugly masses, both about Paris 

 and London ; but their true beauty will never be seen till we 



Fig. 67. 



Canna atro-nigricans. 



learn to place them tastefully here and there among the 

 flowering plants— just as we place sprigs of graceful 

 fern in a bouquet. A bed or two solely devoted to 

 them will occasionally 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 



