110 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



Ferdinandla emlaens. — The noblest, perhaps, of all the race of 

 sub-tropicals ; the stately habit and the noble leaves are unsur- 

 passed. It is a stove shrub, and therefore must not be planted out 

 till June. The seeds require a brisk heat and some care, and the 

 plants should be grown on aa fast as possible. I ought to have 

 noticed this earlier, because the seed should bs sown in February or 

 March. However, if sown now, they vvill make good plants by 

 June, for they are of rapid growth. Where only a few are required 

 it will be best to buy plants in June from a good nursery. 



Striped-leaved Maize — Zea mays variegata. — This is, or nearly, 

 as good as the variegated Arimdo donax, which is sometimes described 

 as the finest of all variegated plants. Sow early in April, in pots, 

 in a moderate heat, and plant out in May. It grows four to five 

 feet high, and has beautifully-striped leaves. 



Verbesina verhascifolia. — This is a fine companion to the stately 

 Ferdinandia. Treat as advised for solanums in the January number, 

 page 15. Here I pause once more, in a belief that I have made a 

 little pleasant work for some of the gardeners. May none who 

 follow me be disappointed. 



[Messrs. Hooper and Co., of Central Avenue, Covent Garden, 

 have obligingly furnished a figure of Bocconia Japonica, to illus- 

 trate Mr. Prospers glowing but strictly just eulogy of its beauties. 

 "We observe in Messrs. Hooper's catalogue good figures of B. fru- 

 tescens and Chamcepuce diacantha. — Ed. F. "W.] 



CULTIYATION OF SALSAFY. 



EY E. WHITEHOUSE. 



[HIS excellent root is not extensively known, and there- 

 fore cannot be said to be generally appreciated. Yet it 

 is an excellent esculent, and deserves to be cultivated 

 in every kitchen garden, for it has three good qualities. 

 In the first place, it may be cooked several ways, and is 

 always delicious ; in the second place, it comes into use during 

 winter, when the garden does not contribute largely to the table ; 

 and in the third place, the sprouts from the roots left in the ground 

 all the winter may be used as a vegetable in spring, when, perhaps, 

 there is nothing to be got but cabbage and sea-kale. 



We are now enjoying nice dishes of these sprouts, which are 

 like asparagus, and very acceptable they are, for the winter de- 

 stroyed our spinach, Brussels sprouts, and in fact every kind of 

 Brassica, except small cahbai^ie-plants, that will be of no use till 

 quite the end of May. Therefore I advise those of your readers 

 who happen to be unacquainted with this root to try a bed of it, or 

 say just a small patch, and if they find it to their liking, they can 

 next season grow it to any extent they please. I am cautious of 

 recommending any one not acquainted with it to grow it largely at 

 first, because experience has taught me that, as a rule, vegetables 



