A ilantus — A ira. 5 3 



grace characteristic ■ of hardy subjects. This is one of 

 the most valuable of the hardy trees which, if kept in a 

 dwarf state by being planted young and cut down 

 annually, will furnish as good an effect as any tropical 

 plant. The Ailantus should be kept in a young state, 

 with a single stem clothed with its superb pinnate leaves ; 

 and we can readily keep it in this form by planting it 

 young and cutting it down annually, taking care to 

 prevent it from breaking into an irregular head, as then 

 the symmetry of the leaf beauty becomes confused and 

 is not at all so effective as when it is kept to a single 

 stem. Vigorous young plants and suckers in good soil 

 will produce handsome, arching, elegantly divided leaves 

 5 ft. and even 6 ft. long, not to be surpassed by those 

 of any stove-plant. Under such treatment it could 

 be grown conveniently to about from 4 ft. to 7 ft. high, 

 and would thus do grandly for association with the 

 larger class of garden flowers — Gladioli, Dahlias, and 

 Hollyhocks, for example — while among Cannas and the 

 like it will prove fine. The leaves are not liable to be 

 attacked by insects — a good point in a plant used for 

 the purpose I suggest — and they retain their healthy 

 green till the first frosts in November, when they sud- 

 denly drop off. It is propagated with facility by cuttings 

 of the roots, but is cheap in all nurseries. China and 

 Japan. 



*Aira pulchella. — One of the most ornamental grasses, 

 with numerous hair-like stems, growing in light elegant 

 tufts 6 ins. to 8 ins. high. It is useful for forming very 

 handsome edgings, or for interspersing amongst plants in 

 borders, or growing in vases or pots for room-decoration. 



