216 



THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Araucarias — these may be placed out for the summer much to their advantage, 

 because the rains will thoroughly clean and freshen them for winter storing. So 

 with some Cycads and other plants of distinct habit — the very things best fitted to 

 add to the attractions of the flower-garden. Thus we may enjoy all the henefits of 

 what is called subtropical gardening without creating any special arrangements for 

 them in all but the smallest gardens. 



"But what of those who have no conservatory, no hothouses, no means for pre- 

 serving large tender plants in winter ? They too, may enjoy in effect the beauty 

 which may have charmed them in a subtropical garden. I have no doubt whatever 

 that in many places as good an effect as any yet seen in an English garden from 

 tender plants, may be obtained by planting hardy ones only ! There is the Pampaa 

 Grass — which when well grown is unsurpassed by anything that requires protection. 

 Let us in planting it take the trouble to plant and place it very well — and we can 

 afford to do that, since one good planting is all that it requires of us, while tender 

 things of one-tenth the value may demand daily attention. There are the hardy 

 Yuccas, noble and graceful in outline, and thoroughly hardy, and which, if planted 

 well, are not to be surpassed, if equalled, by anything of like habit we can preserve 

 indoors. There are the Arundos, conspicua and Donax, things that well repay for 

 liberal planting ; and there are fine hardy herbaceous plants like Crambe cordifolia, 

 Rheum Emodi, Ferulas, and various fine umbelliferous plants that will furnish effects 

 equal to those we can produce by using the tenderest. The Acanthuses too, when 

 well grown, are very suitable to this style ; one called latifolius, which is beginning 

 to get known, being of a peculiarly firm, polished, and nohle leafage. Then we 

 have a hardy Palm — very much hardier too than it is supposed to be, because it has 

 preserved its health and greenness in sheltered positions, where its leaves could not 

 be torn to shreds by storms through all our recent hard winters, including that of 

 1860." 



DECOKATIVE USES OF THE IVY. 



" The Ivy may he readily grown and tastefully used in a dwelling-house. I once 

 saw it growing inside the window of a wine-shop in an obscure part of Paris, and on 

 going in found it planted in a rough box against the wall, up which it had crept, 

 and was going ab&ut apparently as carelessly as if in a wood. If you happen to be 



in the great court at Ver- 

 sailles, and, requiring gui- 

 dance, chance to ask a 

 question at a porter's little 

 lodge seen to the left as 

 you go to the gardens, you 

 will be much interested to 

 see what a deep interest 

 the fat porter and his wife 

 take in Cactuses and such 

 plants, and what a nice 

 collection of them they 

 have gathered together, 

 but more so at the sump- 

 tuous sheet of Ivy which 

 hangs over from high 

 above the mantelpiece. It 

 is planted in a box in a 

 deep recess, and tumbles- 

 out its abundant tresses 

 almost as richly as if de- 

 pending from a Kerry rock- 

 The Ivy is also used to a 

 great extent to make living 

 screens for drawing-rooms 

 and saloons, and often with a very tasteful result. This is usually done by planting 

 it in narrow boxes and training it up wirework trellises, so that with a few of such 

 a living screen may be formed in any desired part of a room in a few minutes. 

 Sometimes it is permanently planted; and in one instance I saw it beautifully used 

 to embellish crystal partitions between large apartments." 



Variegated Ivy in suspension basket. 



