A SELECTION OF CANNAS.
| C. | Annei | C. | *elegantissima rustica | C. | peruviana purpurea |
| “ -discolor | Ferrandii | “ robusta | |||
| atronigricans | gigantea | *purpurea spectabilis | |||
| atropurpurea | grandiflora-floribunda | *Porteana | |||
| *Auguste Ferrier | iridiflora | *picturata-fastuosa | |||
| aurantiaca-splendida | “ -hybrida | “ -nana | |||
| aurantiaca-zebrina | “ -rubra | Pie IX. | |||
| *Amelia | insignis | Prémices-de-Nice | |||
| Barilletti | *Imperator | Rendatleri | |||
| Bihorelli | *Krelagei discolor | rotundifolia-metallica | |||
| Bonetti | Lavallei | “ -rubra | |||
| *Chatei-discolor | Liliiflora | Thibauti | |||
| “ -grandis | limbata | Van-Houttei | |||
| Député Hénon | macrophylla | zebrina-nana | |||
| discolor | musæfolia | “ -elegantissima | |||
| *excelsa-zebrina | maxima | ||||
| expansa | Maréchal-Vaillant | ||||
| “ -rubra | *nigricans |
*Cannabis sativus (Hemp-plant).—A well-known annual, native of India and Persia, and largely cultivated in Europe for the sake of its fibre. In ordinary situations it grows from 4 ft. to 10 ft. high, but in Italy, under very favourable circumstances, it sometimes grows as high as 20 ft. In plants growing singly the stem is frequently much branched, but when grown in masses it is generally straight and unbranched. The leaves are long-stalked, and composed of from five to seven long, lance-shaped, sharp-pointed leaflets, radiating from the top of the stalk, and with the margins cut into sharp saw-like teeth. This well-known plant is useful where the tenderer subtropical plants cannot be enjoyed. Single well-grown plants of it look very imposing and distinct, and are good for the backs of borders or mixed groups. For these purposes, it should be sown early in April in the open ground. To get large plants it would no doubt be worth while raising it in frames. It loves a warm, sandy loam.
*Carduuse riophorus (Woolly-headed Thistle).—A remarkably conspicuous native plant, with a much-branched, furrowed, hairy stem 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, and very deeply cut and undulated spiny leaves, the lower ones often 2 ft. long. The flower-heads are very large, of a purplish-red colour, and surrounded on the under side with a dense white cottony web. There are few plants more handsome or novel in appearance than an established one of this. It is suitable for borders, or groups of hardy fine-foliaged plants, and grows well in any ordinary garden-soil. Seed.
*Carex paniculata.—A very large sedge, growing somewhat like a dwarf tree-fern, with strong and thick stems, and with luxuriant masses of drooping leaves. The roots form dense elevated tufts, frequently elevated from one to three feet above the surface of the ground; and when the plant is in flower, it generally exhibits a large and spreading panicle. The leaves are rough and broad, and the flower-spike from 3 ins. to 6 ins. long. A few tufts of this are very effective on the margins of water near groups of picturesque plants. The finer specimens are of great age, and must be procured from the bogs where the plant occurs wild.
*Carex pendula.—A very handsome plant, unlike any of the other British Carices, growing in large round tufts, with numerous flowering-stems and barren shoots, which attain a height of from 3 ft. to 6 ft. The leaves are often 2 ft. or more in length, and are chiefly at the base of the plant. It is most attractive when in flower, from the graceful disposition of its pendent spikes, which are usually about half-a-dozen in number, and each from 4 ins. to 7 ins. in length. Very suitable for the margin of water or for boggy or moist spots.
