CANNAS PAST AND PRESENT 
215 
used, the spotted and flaked kinds being 
best under glass, where their mottUng 
is better seen and they can have the care 
due to their greater dehcacy. The best 
effect of all is gained by planting the 
taller and vigorous kinds 
near water, where they 
grow very freely and are 
even more remarkable for 
their foliage than their 
flowers. In the south of 
Europe this is quite the 
flnest way of growing 
them and plants of 8 to 1 2 
feet high and through will 
and flowers bending gracefully beneath 
their own weight. Few plants are finer 
than the Canna in leaf-effect, and strong 
plants grown in tubs are useful for sum- 
mer gardening and under glass at other 
quickly form in sheltered places. 
Though equal success may not be pos- 
sible with us, the fact that they do 
finely in a damp season shows that 
one of the worst ways in which to 
grow them is on the raised round beds 
where they are mostly seen. The old 
Ca?tna Rhermaimi is still planted in this 
natural way in some gardens of the south- 
west, and being a great grower, nearly 
hardy, and of fine colour, it is still one 
of the best for the purpose. Its outline 
is better than that of many Cannas,leaves 
Mrs. F. Dreer — A Good Spotted Canna. 
(^Engraved for " Flora."') 
seasons, while small pot plants serve 
for room and table decoration. The cut 
blooms drop too soon to have much 
value, while if cut with much stem the 
plant is spoiled and the secondary flow- 
ers springing from the base of the first 
