THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
73 
pyramidal group with its large leaves close to the 
ground. For the centre of a large group C. robusta 
should be used; as its name indicates, it is a robust- 
growing plant, reaching in good soil a height of eight 
feet; its leaves are correspondingly large—we have had 
them three feet long and eighteen inches wide ; color, a 
deep reddish-bronze on dark-green ground. This spe¬ 
cies rarely flowers, but the beauty of its foliage more 
than compensates for that deficit. Next to this in a 
group, we plant Premices de Nice, a plant of medium or 
low growth, with large, light-green leaves, and very 
large, bright-yellow flowers, produced in fine spikes 
very freely. For a general collection we should recom¬ 
mend, Atropurpurea, a variety with .fine, bronze-purple 
leaves, a tall grower; August Ferrier, reddish-green 
leaves, scarlet flowers, fine; Bihorelli, stem and leaves 
green, with red ribs and veins, a showy plant; Bron- 
ningeii is a beautiful variety, leaves light-green, varie¬ 
gated with white and yellow, a dwarf grower ; Gigan- 
tea, very tall growth, dark-bronze foliage; Hovletti, 
bronzy-green and brown foliage, a tall grower; Insig- 
nis, a distinct variety, with scarlet and yellow flowers ; 
Nigricans, leaves nearly black, fine orange-colored 
flowers; Tricolor, a superb dwarf variety, with varie¬ 
gated foliage, green, pink and white, very handsome. 
There are many other varieties known to the trade, but 
those we have named contain all there is of merit in 
the whole. Those of our friends who wish to grow 
Cannas from seed will bear in mind the fact, that any 
given variety cannot be reproduced from seed; they 
are rarely, if ever constant, so that if a particular va¬ 
riety is wanted the only sure way is to get the roots. 
A WORD ABOUT VERMIN. 
It has been said that thorough cultivation is the best 
insect preventive. 
Experience has taught me the truth of the saying; 
indeed, I have come to question the need of having our 
plants infested with vermin. I believe I can speak ad¬ 
visedly in this matter, having made their culture a study 
for more than a score of years. In my early experi¬ 
ence I will confess to having many a tilt with the 
enemy; in fact, there were times when it was a drawn 
battle between us, and many a choice plant went down 
in the struggle. In these later years, however, it is but 
rarely that I have an encounter with insects of any 
kind; and I find it so much easier and more satisfactory 
every way to guard against an attack than it is to rout 
the pest after they once gain a foothold; and besides, 
this constant warfare with plants greatly mars their 
beauty—they are neither a credit to themselves nor 
the cultivator. I am aware that plants are more fre¬ 
quently infested with lice, scales, etc., in the winter 
season than they are in summer-time. 
The reason why may be readily understood. At this 
season of the year many of our plants are in a dormant, 
or partially dormant, condition. This is particularly 
the case if they have been working hard, putting out 
leaves and flowers during the summer and autumn; 
winter finds them in an exhausted state, and ready to 
rest a little from their labors; but the amateur, not un¬ 
derstanding the silent but eloquent voice of Flora’s 
children, instead of giving them time to recover their 
wasted energies, tries to start them into growth again by 
watering freely, or treating them to liberal draughts of 
liquid manure, for they are “bound to make the lazy 
things grow anyhow;” they see no reason why they 
stand “stock still.” 
Of course, such treatment is the worst thing that 
could be done under the circumstances. Instead of 
inciting the plant to action, it severely taxes the 
already weakened organs, and it becomes an easy prey 
to vermin; when they attack it is too feeble to make 
any resistance, and between the onset of friend and 
enemy, the plant has a hard struggle for life. 
When stimulants have been freely used and the soil 
is kept constantly soaked, it soon becomes sour or 
mouldy—quite unfit for anything except to breed ver¬ 
min in, and it will take only a few weeks to raise a 
bountiful crop of these. But, there is no need of this 
state of things. It is optional with you, reader, to 
decide whether you will grow plants or worms. Shall 
I tell you how to have the one, and avoid the other? 
When preparing your soil, do not use fresh manures; 
let it be old, thoroughly composted and finely pulverized. 
Do not overdress it. Make it moderately rich, rather 
than excessively so. If we err in judgment let it be 
upon the side of safety. 
Do not use stimulants in liquid form, except to strong¬ 
growing plants, or gross feeders like the Fuchsia or 
Caladium, and to such as these, only when they need 
it. 
When the plant has absorbed all the nutriment from 
the earth, it is a better way to re-pot in fresh soil, for 
stimulants are dangerous medicines in the hands of the 
inexperienced. When plants need rest, growth ceases, 
or in otuer words, they stand “stock still;” they should 
then be set one side and watered very sparingly, just 
enough to keep the little rootlets from becoming too 
dry, for this would be the other extreme. When you 
find new growth starting, give them their place at the 
window, and more water. When you water plants, do 
it thoroughly, and then wait until the soil looks dry be¬ 
fore you water again. Give your plants a good, strong- 
light, not a compromise between the plants and cur¬ 
tains, for we cannot grow fine specimens without it. 
There are some plants that will grow and bloom 
without sunshine in a creditable manner, but not 
without light; this is absolutely necessary. Give your 
plants a little elbow-room; if they are crowded, they 
will grow slender. Turn them often to the light to keep 
them symmetrical, and give sunshine at least a portion 
of the day; and bear in mind that plants, as well as 
people, cannot long remain in a healthy condition 
without fresh air; the same law that governs the one, 
is true of the other. 
And last, but not least, keep your plants clean; this is 
a vital point. In the whole process of cultivation there 
is nothing of more importance than cleanliness—indeed, 
success is dependent upon it. 
The leaves are the lungs of the plant; they are rid¬ 
dled with thousands of little orifices called breathing- 
