54 Subtropical Gardening. 



Its delicate panicles give an additional charm to the 

 finest bouquets. May be sown either in September or in 

 April. S. Europe. 



*Alisma Plantago. — A native perennial water-plant, 

 growing nearly 3 ft. high, and bearing a very handsome 

 pyramidal panicle of rosy-white flowers from June to 

 September. The leaves are oval-lance-shaped with a 

 cordate base, and are borne nearly erect on long stalks 

 for some distance above the surface of the water. A 

 graceful object on the margins of ponds, lakes, etc., where 

 a plant of it transferred from any place where it grows 

 will soon increase. 



Alsophila excelsa. — A noble tree-fern, native of 

 Norfolk Island, where it attains a height of 40 ft., 

 crowned with a magnificent circular crest of bipinnate 

 fronds. These fronds or branches fall off every year, 

 leaving an indentation in the trunk. It stands well in 

 the open air in this country in shady, moist, and 

 thoroughly well sheltered places. It should be put out at 

 the end of May, and taken indoors at the end of Sep- 

 tember or early in October, and receive warm-greenhouse 

 or temperate-house treatment in winter. The same re- 

 marks apply to A. ausfra/is, and probably others of the 

 family will be found to thrive well in the open air when 

 sufficiently plentiful to be tried in that position. 



*THE AMARANTUSES. 



Among the common annuals of our gardens I know of 

 none more in want of judicious use and appreciation than 

 these. The few we grow are usually treated as rough 



