July 1. 1907 
Chrysanthemums should be removed 
from the beds where they were grown to 
produce large blooms, and should be re- 
planted in an open position in unmanured 
soil. The sucker growths may be infested 
with aphis and should be cleaned before 
being replanted. Tho easiest and most 
effective method is to divide the stool or 
crown and dip the divisions in a strong 
nicotine solution. 
As Dahlias die down the tubers may be 
lifted and stored in a cool dry place, free 
from draught. Where Dahlias are ripen- 
ing their seeds and the weather is continu- 
ously moist, damping of the seed heads is 
likely. It is well to remove any that are 
at all ripe, and to clean the seeds and dry 
them before a fire, otherwise the whole 
may be lost. “ 
Carnations should be tied to stakes, 
The winter blooming kinds should now. 
be showing flowering growths freely, and 
will be benefited by a light application of 
blood manure or other rapid acting fer. 
tiliser. Disbudding is necessary if fine 
blooms are desired. 
ee 
The Canna. 
(By J. Croniy). 
Canna, the Indian Shot plant, is a 
family of herbaceous perennials, found 
native in Brazil and other parts of South 
America, andin Eastern Asia. Some of 
the species haye been cultivated in English 
and European gardens as stove plants for 
4 considerable time, C. Indica and OC. 
Orientalis flowering in England in 1570. 
About 1820 a number of species was 
introduced from Brazil and other parts 
of South America, but for some time 
little progress was made towards improy- 
ing the canna as a florist’s flower. Some 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
eee 
of the species were stately foliage plants, 
but the flowers were small. Of late, florists 
(in France and Italy especially) have paid 
special attention to the canna, and have 
effected a wonderful change in the size 
and color of the flowers. The hybrid 
varieties now produce spikes or bunches 
‘ of beautiful flowers, a most decided con- 
trast to the insignificant inflorescence of 
most of the species. The foliage in many 
kinds is large, and varying in color from 
purplish red to bright green. There are, 
among the later introductions, two types, 
known as the “ orchid-flowering”’ and the 
“ gladicli-flowering”’? Cannas, that surpass, 
and are generally grown to the exclusion 
of other garden forms. ‘he orchid-flower- 
ing varieties are taller in growth, and 
produce larger individual blooms than 
the gladioliflora type, but are more tender 
and easily affected by hot winds. They 
are specially suitable for pot culture, for 
greenhouse or verandah decoration. Some 
of the finest varieties bear highly-colored 
foliage, and are conspicuous plants in the 
garden, and worth cultlvating for that 
alone. The gladioli-flowering type is of a 
much dwarfer habit of growth, and gene- 
rally hardier. The flowers are nore freely 
produced, and though smaller ind ividually, 
‘ire borne in larger trusses. This type of 
canna is undoubtedly one of the finest 
classes of plants grown for border decora- 
tion, praducing bright flowers freely during 
the greater part of summer and autumn. 
In gardens in most parts of the State it 
thrives and blooms well, often under 
most unfavorable conditions. Canna 
blooms are not often used as cut flowers, 
the florets dropping too quickly, but last 
well on the plants, and after a hot wind 
has spoiled the blooms that are open, a 
fresh supply is produced in two or three 
days. 
Sorn—Srrvuation—Outrure. 
A cool friable loam is the most suitable 
soil for cannas, although the plants will 
thrive fairly in almost any kind of soil if 
well supplied with manure and water. 
They are often grown in special beds that 
are protected by a fence or hedge from 
heavy winds but exposed to full sunshine, 
and in such positions, when well manured 
and watered, bloom freely for months. 
To get best results the soil should be 
deeply warked and well manured, half- 
rotted stable manure and bone dust being 
suitable fertilisers. 
Cannas are specially suitable for plant- 
ing in bold groups, or as specimens on 
lawns, in the mixed border, among rock- 
work, at edges of ponds, etc. Wind-swept 
and overshaded positions are unsuitable. 
The plants are propagated by dividing 
the roots or rhizomes. A small piece of 
root, bearing two or three eyes or buds, 
is sufficient to produce a large plant 
during the season, if well provided with 
nourishment, The best and strongest 
eyes are produced at the extremities of 
the rhizome. The plants may be divided 
in August or September, and the divisions 
5 
planted into their flowering qnarters im- 
mediately, or they may be potted to plant - 
out later. Where the plants must be- 
grown continuously in one plot of ground, 
the best plan to adopt is to lift the plants 
after they are cut down by frost in winter, 
and plant them temporarily in some other 
place—under trees or any corner will — - 
suffice—but they must not be allowed to 
become dry and wilted. New soil and 
manure can then be deeply worked into 
the bed, and divisions of the plant set 
out in spring. Pieces of root should be 
planted about two inches beneath the 
surface. Subsequent cultivation is, prin- 
cipaliy, supplying and maintaining mois- 
ture in the soil Where water is scarce, 
a heavy mulch of stable manure should 
be applied early in the season, and the 
plants liberally watered during hot dry 
weather. Stems that have flowered should 
be regularly cut away. 
VARIETIES WorvtHY oF CuLTURE, 
Orchid-flowering (mostly of tall habit 
of growth) :—Italia, Austria, Alemannia, 
Africa, America, Bavaria, H. Wendland, 
Pandora, Suevia, Cuba, Heinrich Seidel, 
Mont Blanc. 
Giadioli-flowering and other types :— 
Florence Vaughan, Madame Crozy, Papa, 
Paul Lorenz, Edouard Andre, Alice Guil- 
foyle. Queen (Konigin) Charlotte, Emilie 
Lorenz, Souvenir Ge Antoine Crozy, Sou- 
venir de President Carnot, L. E. Bally, 
Doyen Jean Libaud. 
ee -- 
The Nerine. 
(By J. Cronty), 
Nerine is a genus of deciduous bulbous 
planis ‘indigenous to South Africa that 
bloom during the autumn months, pro- 
ducing umbels of beautiful flowers that 
are berne on long stiff stems in most of 
the species and their varieties. This genus 
was formerly included in Amaryllis and 
the species described in the early botanical 
works were known under that name 
Lycoris aurea aed radiata, natives of 
China and Japan, were formerly classed 
as Nerines, which they closely resemble 
in flower and habit of growth, For gar-~ 
dening purposes they may be still known 
as Nerines and are considered as syno- 
nymous by some authorities, 
Nerines are undoubtedly a most beau- 
tiful class of bulbous plants. and being 
hardy in most parts of this State should 
be much more largely grown than they 
are at present. They will thrive under 
practically the same conditions as Am- 
aryllis belladonna, a plant that is found 
to grow well in most districts. Hither 
as pot plants or to grow in the garden 
they are worthy of a place in any garden. 
The bulbs are deciduous and require no 
water during summer, a fact that makes 
them specially suitable subjects in localities 
where the supply of water for gardening 
purposes is limited. The range of color 
in the flowers is fairly wide, comprising 
