48 Subtropical Gardening. 



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, pro- 

 jected in the grass a little from the edge of a choice 

 shrubbery, or in the flower-garden ; nobody need fear its 

 displaying anything like the seediness which such things 

 as the Heracleums show at the end of summer. I should 

 not like to advise its being planted in the centre of a 

 flower-bed, or in any other position where it would be 

 disturbed ; but in case it were determined to plant per- 

 manent groups of fine-leaved hardy plants, then indeed 

 it could be used with great success. Supposing we have 

 an irregular kind of flower-garden or pleasure-ground to 

 deal with (a common case), one of the best things to do 

 with this Acanthus is to plant it in the grass, at some 

 distance from the clumps, and perhaps near a few other 

 things of like character. It is better than any kind of 

 Acanthus hitherto commonly cultivated, though one or 

 two of these are fine. Give it deep good soil, and do 

 not grudge it this attention, because, unlike tender plants, 

 it will not trouble you again for a long time. Nobody 

 seems to know from whence it came. Probably it is a 

 variety of Acanthus mollis. The plant varies a good 

 deal; I have seen specimens of it about a foot high, 

 with leaves comparatively small and stiff and rigid, as if 

 cast in a mould, by the side of others of thrice that 

 development, and of the usual texture. 



