KPOIiT ON C ANN AS, 



817 



REPORT ON C ANNAS AT CHISWICK, 1898. 



A collection of seventy-one new and old varieties of Cannas, 

 together with many unnamed seedlings raised in the Gardens, 

 were grown at Chiswick. Two plants of each were flowered in 

 ] 0-in. pots in an unheated greenhouse. The plants made good 

 growth and flowered profusely from the early part of July to the 

 middle of October, and were greatly admired. They were started 

 in cocoanut fibre in March in a brisk heat, and when large enough 

 were divided and transferred to 4-in. pots and planted in turfy 

 loam to which had been added a quantity of leaf-mould and 

 sharp silver-sand to keep the whole porous. Later on the plants 

 were moved to the flowering pots and placed in a cool house. 

 It is very important that Cannas should have perfect drainage, 

 and during the growing season copious supplies of water should 

 be given to the roots. Cannas are well adapted for subtropical 

 bedding, but the Italia group are not suitable for this purpose. 

 Those belonging to the Italia group are conspicuous for their tall 

 habit, handsome foliage, and gorgeously coloured flowers, which, 

 however, are of shorter duration than those of the Crozy group. 

 The collection was examined by the Floral Committee on several 

 occasions. 



F.C.C.=First-class Certificate. 

 A.M. = Award of Merit, 

 xxx = Highly Commended. 



I. — Green-leaved Varieties. 



1. Admiral Courbet, F.C.C. August 28, 1888 (Vilmorin).— 

 Spike tall and slender ; flowers of medium size, with long petals, 

 bright canary-yellow, spotted with crimson. 



2. Ajax (Veitch). — Dwarf habit ; not very free flowering ; 

 flowers lemon-yellow, streaked with rosy crimson, the centre 

 segment being striped with deep crimson. 



3. Alemannia, A.M. July 27, 1898 (Dammann and Veitch). — 

 Very large leaves ; flowers large and handsome, with a broad 

 Cattleya-like lip, orange scarlet and deep red, with an irregular 

 golden-yellow margin. 



4. Alphonse Bouvier, A.M. January 12, 1892 (Lemoine). — 



