adopt it in the case of the great majority of subjects. Its chief merit probably is that it secures a better drainage. Good drainage is undoubtedly indispensable, and, still more so, a thoroughly rich and light mass of deep soil, with abundance of water; without these two last conditions it is hopeless to expect a free rich growth, which is the great charm of these plants. Ricinus, Cannas, Ferdinanda, and some of the freer-growing kinds certainly succeed perfectly without any such arrangement as that above described. The more delicate kinds, such as the Solanums and Wigandia macrophylla, would be those most likely to be benefited by it. It is needless to say, that the numerous fine and hardy subjects enumerated in Part II. do not require anything of the kind, although they too will, as a rule, be fine in proportion to the care bestowed in securing for them a deep and rich body of soil.
One most essential matter is the securing of as perfect shelter as is possible. Warm, sunny, and thoroughly sheltered dells should be chosen where convenient; and, in any case, positions which are sheltered should be selected, as the leaves of all the better kinds suffer very much from strong winds, from which they will be protected if judiciously planted near sheltering banks and trees. Even in quite level districts it will be possible to secure shelter, by planting trees of various kinds, among which such graceful conifers as Thujopsis borealis, Thuja gigantea (true), Cupressus macrocarpa, Cryptomeria elegans, etc., should be freely used in the foreground, as in beauty of form they are unsurpassed by any short-lived inhabitants of the summer garden. Except, however, in the case of the Tree-ferns, and various other things not grown in the open air but simply placed there for the summer, it is very desirable not to place the plants in the shade of trees. All the things which have to grow in the open air should be placed in the full sun. Not a few hardy subjects will thrive very well without any but ordinary shelter, as, for example, the Yuccas and Acanthuses; but, judging by the remarkable way in which the hardy Bamboo thrives when placed in a sheltered dell, shelter has a considerable influence on the well-being even of these, as it must have on all subjects with large leaf-surfaces. But it should not be forgotten that shelter may be well secured without placing the beds or groups so near trees that they will be robbed, shaded, or otherwise injured by them.
W. R.
March 1, 1871.
PART II.
DESCRIPTION, ARRANGEMENT, CULTURE, ETC., OF SUITABLE SPECIES, HARDY AND TENDER, ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.
SUBTROPICAL GARDENING.
PART II.
[*]Acacia Julibrissin.—A native of Persia, with large and elegant much-divided leaves, and flowers somewhat like short tinted brushes from the numerous purple stamens. Though this does not succeed as a standard tree in all parts of England (where it grows well against walls, and sometimes flowers), yet doubtless it would do so in some parts of the south, and I have seen it make presentable standards about Geneva and in Anjou. But for our purposes it is better that it should not be perfectly hardy, as by confining it to a single young stem and using young plants, or plants that have been cut down every year, we shall get an erect stem covered with leaves more graceful than a fern, and that is the kind of ornament we want as a graceful object amidst low-growing flowers. The leaves, like those of some other plants of the pea tribe, are slightly sensitive. On fine sunny days they spread out fully and afford a pleasant shade; on dull ones the leaflets fall down. This interesting phenomenon takes place with other members of the same family—for instance, the elegant A. dealbata of our conservatories. Seed of A. Julibrissin—or the silk-rose, as it is called by the Persians in consequence of its silky stamens—is readily obtained, and it is much better raised from seed, as then you get those single-stemmed and vigorous young plants which are to the flower-garden what an elegant fern is to the conservatory or show-house. To succeed with it in the way above named, it may be protected at the root and cut down every year in spring, or strong young plants may be put out annually, in much the same way as those of A. lophantha.
[*] The names of all hardy species and other kinds easily raised from seed in spring (the kinds useful in all classes of garden), are preceded by an asterisk.
Acacia lophantha.—This elegant plant, though not hardy, is one of those which all may enjoy, from the freedom with which it grows in the open air in summer. It will prove more useful for the flower-garden than it has ever been for the houses, and, being easily raised, is entitled to a place here among the very best. The elegance of its leaves and its quick growth in the open air make it quite a boon to the flower-gardener who wishes to establish graceful verdure amongst the brighter ornaments of his parterre. It has graceful fern-like leaves and a close and erect habit, which permits us to closely associate it with flowering plants without in the least shading them or robbing them. Of course I speak of it in the young and single-stemmed condition, the way in which it should be used. By confining it to a single stem and using it in a young state, you get the fullest size and grace of which the leaves are capable. Allow it to become old and branched, and it may be useful, but by no means so much so as when young and without side branches. It may be raised from seed as easily as a common bedding plant. By sowing it early
in the year it may be had fit for use by the first of June; but plants a year old or so, stiff, strong, and well hardened off for planting out at the end of May, are the best. It would be desirable to raise an annual stock, as it is almost as useful for room-decoration as for the garden. Native of New Holland.
ACANTHUS.
These stout and hardy herbaceous plants are of the greatest importance in the subtropical garden or the pleasure-ground, their effect being very good when they are well established. They thrive in almost any soil, but attain their greatest luxuriance and beauty in deep warm ones. The best uses for these species are as isolated tufts in the grass, in the mixed border, or in picturesque groups with other hardy subjects. In all cases they should be placed in positions where they are not likely to be disturbed, as their beauty is not seen until they are well established. All are easily propagated by division. Few herbaceous genera may be made more useful than this.
*Acanthus hirsutus.—This uncommon species has a narrow spiny leaf, more in the way of Morina longifolia than the ordinary Acanthuses, and is dark green in hue. The leaves grow to a length of about 15 ins. or 16 ins. in ordinary soil. Being distinct, it may be worth growing, though in point of character or importance it is inferior to the larger kinds. South of Europe.
*Acanthus latifolius.—The leaves of this are bold and noble in outline, and the plant has a tendency, rare in some hardy things with otherwise fine qualities, to retain them till the end of the season without losing a particle of their freshness and polished verdure. In fact, the only thing we have to decide about this subject is, what is the best place for it? Now, it is one of those things that will not disgrace any position, and will prove equally at home in the centre of the mixed border, projected in the grass a little from the edge of a choice shrubbery, or in the flower-garden;