THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE 



APRTL, 1868 



EOUaH AND EEADT GAEDENINa.— NO. III. 



A CHEAP DISPLAY OP SUBTEOPICAL PLANTS. 



ET US at least be in the fashion, even if we do things 

 cheap. The " subtropical movement," as it is called, is 

 a healthy protest against the monotonous ^a^ colouring , 

 the ever-recurring carpet design, against which the 

 Eloeal "Woeld has constantly raised its voice, and 

 laboured for its correction. So we must take the subtropical into 

 our series of "rough and ready;" but we would not do so, unless, 

 besides walking with the fashion, we might also promote a sound judg- 

 ment and good taste. We want no better justification for placing 

 the subject third in the series, than this, that in the subtropical 

 department we shall find a number of magnificent plants well adapted 

 for the embellishment of English gardens, and these may be grown 

 on rough and ready principles. Does the reader expect to be told 

 that a stove, a range of pits, and other costly contrivances, will be 

 required to begin with ? We give the reader at once whatever com- 

 fort he or she may need on that score, by saying that we shall now 

 take a new view of the subtropical business, and recommend 

 things that may be grown about as easily as scarlet runners. 

 In doing so, we shall make public a few '' things not generally 

 known;" and if this paper does not prove to the majority of our 

 readers worth more than the cost of the number containing it, we 

 shall be disappointed as much as anybody with it. 



Let it be understood at starting, that we cannot prescribe on 

 matters of taste with any great advantage here. We do not pretend 

 to say that so many of this and so many of that must be grown, 

 and they must be disposed of in such and such a manner. Nothing 

 of the sort. We shall make only a few general remarks on that 

 part of the subject. In the first place, then, in every garden where 

 ordinary bedding plants are employed, the subtropicals may be 

 mixed with them ; and if the mixture is judiciously accomplished,. 

 the effect will be incomparably rich as compared with carpet colour- 



