42 



SUB-TROPICALS THAT MAY BE GEOWN FROM SEED. 



BY ZAEL PEOSPEE. 



I RUSTING that the practical notes offered last month 

 have been found of some use, 1 will again direct atten- 

 tion to plants adapted for *' The Choice Garden," in 

 the class usually denominated " sub-tropicals," and that 

 may be grown from seed. I should say that those 

 who have not yet sown seeds of any of the kinds recommended last 

 month, but who wish to do so, may still proceed, for there is good 

 time yet to grow the plants to a fair size before planting them out. 

 But there must be no more time lost, for the days are lengthening, 

 and spring is near at hand, and all seedling plants that require a 

 good long season of in-door nursing, as most sub-tropicals do, should 

 now be started to take every possible advantage of the increasing 

 daylight. 



DATUEA. 



D.fastuosa Huberiana. — This is an annual or a perennial, at the 

 choice of the cultivator. If sown early and grown liberally, it 

 attains to a height of five or six feet, and producing branches freely, 

 it will measure as much through. The flowers are nearly as large as 

 those of D. arlorea, and of various colours, violet and white pre- 

 dominating. There are several varieties, all worth having if there 

 is room for them. If kept in greenhouse temperature and rather 

 dry all winter, the plants may be put out eveiy year, and if in a 

 sheltered position will have a grand effect, 



D. gigantea. — A very grand species, with white flowers, most 

 superb when well grown. 



D. ceratocaulon.—A pretty robust habited plant, with immense 

 trumpet-shaped flowers, white striped with pink, deliciously scented. 



D. Kni^htii.^This grows to a height of four to six feet, with 

 superb white flowers. 



For the sub-tropical garden, D. arhorea, D. frutescens, and D. 

 suaveolens are remarkable for beauty, but it is not advisable to 

 grow them from seed, as they can be with certainty and rapidity 

 raised from cuttings. When planted out in rich well-drained soil, 

 and supplied with abundance of water, they grow to gigantic dimen- 

 sions, and produce their noble odoriferous flowers freely. 



EEXTHEINA. 



The beds of Erythrinas at Battersea Park last year were amongst 

 the most interesting and beautiful of all the sub-tropical displays. 

 Yet I should prefer to see in a small garden half a dozen only of 

 these plants far apart, standing separately in front of evergreen 

 shrubs, or in that imaginary mixed border for which the O'Shane 

 and Mr. "Williams have been waging war so good temperedly. It is 

 worth the while of any amateur to grow a few Erythrinas from seed, 

 both for the amusement and the intrinsic value of the plants. At 



