236 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Canna. — This noble race nf tender plants has been 

 described in the chapter concerning " Tender Plants for 

 the Summer Garden,'' but under glass the flowers are 

 more profuse even than in the open garden, where they 

 are exposed in some years to cold winds and rains. In 

 such years flowers are few out of doors, and then one 

 must rely upon the plants under glass, whilst, of course, a 

 greenhouse is the place to raise the seedlings for the 

 purpose of selecting those kinds that show some advance 

 upon varieties already in existence. When grown under 

 glass plenty of water is necessary during the summer 

 season, varied occasionally with liquid manure, and a 

 good soil composed of fibrous loam mixed with a moderate 

 quantity of well-decayed manure. An abundance of light 

 and air is necessary, and constant syringing is beneficial. 



and shifted into larger ones as they require it. C. Areturus 

 will flower well in pots 5m. and 6in. in diameter, while 

 in the case of C. cretica, 6in. and Sin. pots are required. 

 Cineraria. — Where flowering plants are in demand, 

 Cinerarias are generally grown, as they supply a great 

 wealth of colour quickly. In their best forms these 

 garden varieties of Cineraria are fine sturdy plants, not 

 much more than lit. high, while the head of flowers is 

 quite as much across. The individual blooms are large, 

 and the petals overlap in such a way as to almost form a 

 circular flower. There is a great variety of colour amongst 

 them, ranging from white to red and purple, through 

 various intermediate shades, while a particularly striking 

 form has flowers of an intense purple-blue, a colour little 

 represented among greenhouse plants. There is also a 



group of 



"*v V" - V \ "v ""X" ' more recent 



hybrids ob- 

 tained by 

 crossing 

 some of the 

 original 

 species, 

 such as C. 

 aurita, C. 

 cruenta, 

 and C. mul- 

 t i f 1 o r a . 

 These are 

 of great 

 value for 

 greenhouse 

 deco ration, 

 and are 

 quite dis- 

 similar from 

 the ordinary 



for 

 jrow 

 3ft. 

 and 



.1 IICUSF. OF C ANN AS. 



There is now a large number of varieties to select from, 

 some sell coloured, also splashed and striped, whilst the 

 leaves differ in shades of green, some almost rich 

 chocolate. In the 1 liapter referred to the ( anna is dealt 

 with at considerable length. (.'annas are not difficult to 

 grow in pots, even in a sin ill greenhouse, and when in 

 flower few indoor plants are brighter. 

 CelOSia. — Included in this family are the Cockscomb and 

 die numerous feathery forms of C. pyramidalis, which 

 are now so much used lor bedding during the summer 

 months. Some of these are of brilliant hues, the colour 

 varying from straw to crimson, through various inter- 

 mediate shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet, while m »genta 

 and purple are also represented. All of the above are 

 readily raised from seed sown in the spring in gentle 

 heat, and the voung plants so obtained must be grown on 

 freely without check. There is a quaint charm about 

 these, which is certainly enhanced when the plants are 

 used to break up flower beds. The colours are remark- 

 ably rich. 



Celsia Areturus and C. eretiea are two easily-grown 



plants, wdth spikes of yellow blossoms. C. cretica, which 

 flowers in summer and autumn, will reach a height of 

 4ft. to 5k., with blossoms Cm. in diameter, while 

 C. Areturus is much smaller in all its parts, and more 

 branching. Both produce seeds freely, which should be 

 sown in spring in gentle heat, and when the seedlings are 

 large enough to handle, dibble them thinly into pots or pans 

 of line soil. After this they must be put into small pots, 



for supp'ying cut blooms th 

 These hybrid Cinerarias are one 

 acquisitions of the century A 



bio 



mi 1^ very beauulul, 

 11 flowers individu ilb 



th 



e tal 



are 

 of the 

 rroup o 

 stem 



forms 

 they 

 about 

 high, 



produce 

 their bright- 

 coloured 

 starry 

 flowers in 

 light and 

 elegant 

 i l usters. 

 cry useful, 

 most valuable 

 >f plants in lull 

 burdened with 



sma 



showy as those of I lie older type of Cineraria. There is 

 a delightful gracefulness and distinctness about them, 

 the colours, too, very pure, from white through soft rose to 

 deep purple, some prettily tipped with colour. It is 

 indeed impossible to convey, in words, an idea of their 

 grace and fresh be.iuty, and they are sufficiently tall, 3ft. 

 and even more, to group in the greenhouse or conservatory 

 with foliage and other plants. These hybrids will most 

 certainly lie much grown in the future, and one of the 

 parents, C. aurita, is in itself very charming ; the flowers 

 are about the size of a penny, and of a rosy hue, lipped 

 with while, whilst the leaves are of a preity glaucous 

 shade. Many years ago this species was grown in the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew, and it is also seen under the name 

 of Senecio. It is more pleasing to those who like free- 

 grow ing things than the stiff florists" plants. C. cruenta 

 is also worth growing, a tall, free, vigorous species of rich 

 colour. A few varieties have double blossoms, but though 

 very pretty they are not such general favourites as the 

 single-flowered forms. Cinerarias are principally raised 

 from see 1, which should be sow n in April and May for 

 early winter, and a couple of months later for succession. 

 May is, however, the best month for the sowing, and this 

 time is recommended. The April seedlings will bloom in 



