154 Siibtropical Gardening. 



coloured flowers. These plants are very hardy perennials, 

 and will require hardly any care after planting them. 

 They are well suited for embellishing cascades and rough 

 rockwork, are not fastidious as to soil, and are easily 

 multiplied by division of the tufts. 



Melanoselinum decipiens. — An umbelliferous 

 shrub, from Madeira, with a round simple stem, bare 

 below, and large spreading compound leaves with oval 

 toothed segments and sheathing leaf-stalks. Flowers 

 white, borne in umbels. Should be planted out in May. 

 A useful subject for isolation on grass-plats, etc., and 

 requiring greenhouse or warm-frame treatment in winter. 

 Young plants are to be preferred for ornamental purposes. 

 Multiplied by seed. 



Melia Azedarach (Pride of India). — A very o/na- 

 mental tree, but with us usually seen in a small state. 

 It is a native of India, but is now naturalised in various 

 parts of S. Europe. It usually grows from 13 ft. to 17 ft. 

 high, and bears its smooth dark-green pinnate leaves 

 chiefly clustered together at the ends of the branches. 

 The flowers are of a lilac colour, and emit an agreeable 

 perfume : they are produced in large bunches which issue 

 from the axils of the leaves. The fruit is considered 

 poisonous. Healthy young plants kept to a single stem, 

 and cut down to within a foot or two of the base annually, 

 form graceful objects in the ornamental garden, throwing 

 up an erect stout stem regularly clothed with leaves twice 

 and thrice divided, from 16 ins. to more than 2 ft. long 

 and from 1 ft. to nearly 18 ins. across. Plant out in early 

 summer. A substantial, well-manured soil, a shady posi- 

 tion, and frequent waterings in summer are necessary for 



