Evening star., 1938-08-06

Lne uOWef-maTSlneQ, SplOCCneQ, ana
.hi-colored.
~ It is far more common to see, bed
Of only cannas than to see them mixed
with other flowers or used as back
ground for a border, chiefly because
most Of the colors are so strong and
-Xivid that they do not lend themselves
TO many color harmonies. The bright
reds and pinks, though superb when
.n1assed in front of green shrubbery
Or along fence or garage. would ut
.terly spoil the soft shades of phlox,
.delphinium, and most other pink, law
ender and blue flowers. But used
against a background and edged with
scarlet sage Gf red ones are chosen)
or Dusty Miller, or some similar soft
foliage plant, they present striking
picture.
Cannas have large tuber-like roots.
They are not hardy and hence must
be dug in the fall, stored over winter
and preferably started indoors in the
spring. BY starting the roots indoors
IN Q mixture OF peat moss and ashes
IN late February or early in March it
Is possible to have large plants ready
to flower by mid-May, the usual plant
sir1g time.
TANNAs require a moderately we'll
enriched, moist soil. They are
vigorous growers and generous bloom
ers if we'll fed and watered. They will
grow in light shade, but do much bet
ter in full sun. While the bed should
be deeply worked, the roots are planted
rather shallowly-3 to 4 inches.
= The roots are usually broken apart
at planting time, single eye being
sufficient to start good plant. New
eyes will develop as the season pro-
crosses and new shoots appear and
Flower. BY fall the single plant set
cut in the spring is a large clump
with many shoots. They multiply
rapidly when well fed.
The large masses of flower buds
keep opening all summer long, until
frost stops their growth. The home
gardner will find it desirable to re-
move the faded blooms frequently 80
that they will always appear fresh.
When one flower stalk has finished
towering 1t is well to break or cut
It of so that the plants strength will
not go into the formation of seed.
but into the development Of new
Towering stalks.
Occasionally we see the tall, small
Powered varieties and species. They
are not particularly desirable nova
days. as the hybridizers have produced
$50 many large-flowered varieties. Thus
the older varieties and species are of
little interest to the home gardener
Most Of the newer varieties are from
I to 5 feet in height. Many are re-
ported to grow only feet high. Thus
they work well in the middle Of a wide
border, or at the back of narrow
border. They can also serve as a sum-
nler hedge. or as accent points in front
OF shrub border.
CANNAS make their best showing
when massed or in rows. Wherever
used they should be spaced about 10
inches apart. Since they are rather
tall plants it Is well to have border
In front Of them Of lower growing
foliage plants, or Towering plants
whose colors harmonic with the
cannas.
After frost has killed the plants
dig and store the roots in a COOL
moist, frost-free storage. They do
not need to be dug Immediately after
a frost has killed the foliage, but it
is desirable to cut off the tops at
once. Peat-moss and ashes make a
fairly satisfactory mixture in which
to store the roots. The peat-moss
holds enough moisture to prevent dry
rot and the ashes help to prevent
excess moisture. More trouble is ex-
perienced in winter storage of roots
than with any other phase of Gamma
culture DiseaSe and insect neSts are