104 



GARDEN GUIDE 



flowers sowings may be made in the open ground in April or May. 

 Vigorous growth is encouraged by two transplantings. WTien the 

 seedlings are large enough to handle transfer to flats or beds. Trans- 

 plant again when the plants are three or four inches high, setting 

 them where they are to bloom, twelve to fifteen inches apart; the 

 branching sorts need more room to develop. Do not let the plants 

 get a check in any way due to want of water, or cramping of root 

 system. A rich, well prepared soil suits them best. Wood ashes or 

 slaked lime incorporated with the soil will do much to prevent root 

 and stem diseases to which Asters are liable. 



THE CANNAS 



These handsome subjects mark a wonderful development by the 

 plant breeder. At first the Cannas were only prized as fohage plants; 

 the petals were narrow and the flower was very unattractive. Now 

 we have an excellent series of wonderful Cannas with superbly colored 

 gigantic flowers, all of which are of easy culture and great value for 

 the garden, where they are planted in formal beds or mixed in the 

 perennial border. 



Starting Cannas 



In March the roots, 

 which have been stored 

 during the Winter, are best 

 cut up so that there are 

 one to three buds or eyes 

 on each piece. They can 

 then be planted in boxes 

 of sand or sandy soil and 

 placed in a light window. 

 If the season is late and 

 the plants get rather large, 

 they should be placed in 

 pots; those four inches 

 high are generally large 

 enough. 



Cannas are tender and 

 should not be planted in 

 the open ground before all 

 danger of frost is past. 



There is no advantage in _ ^ i, 



. , « ^ , Cannas are easy to grow and wen repay the 



plantmg too early, tor they slight labor required 



do not make good growth till the ground becomes thoroughly warm. 



