2o8 Stibtropical Gardening. 



plant, a native of the mountainous regions of New Gra- 

 nada, is, from the nobility of its port and the magnificence 

 of its leaves, entitled to hold a place among the finest 

 plants of our gardens. Under the climate of London it 

 has made leaves which have surprised all beholders, as well 

 by their size as by their strong and remarkable veining 

 and texture. It will be found to succeed very well in the 

 midland and southern counties of England, though too 

 much care cannot be taken to secure for it a warm shel- 

 tered position, free good soil, and perfect drainage. It 

 may be used with superb effect either in a mass or as a 

 single plant. It is frequently propagated by cuttings of 

 the roots, and grown in a moist and genial temperature 

 through the spring months, keeping it near the light 

 so as to preserve it in a dwarf and well-clothed con- 

 dition ; and, like all the other plants in this class, it 

 should be very carefully hardened off previous to plant- 

 ing out at the end of May. It is, however, much better 

 raised from cuttings of the shoots, if these are to be 

 had. It may also be raised from seed. W. macrophylla 

 has the stems covered with short stinging hairs, and bear- 

 ing brownish viscid drops, which adhere to the hand like 

 oil when the stem is touched. 



W. Vigieri is another fine kind of quick and vigorous 

 growth, and remarkable habit. In the beginning of Sep- 

 tember, 1867, 1 measured a specimen with leaves 3 ft. 9 ins. 

 long, including the leaf-stalk, and 22 ins. across; the stem, 

 nearly 7 ft. high and 3 ins. in diameter, bearing a column 

 of such leaves. It is known at a glance from the popular 

 and older W. macrophylla, by the leaves and the stems 

 being covered in a much greater degree with glossy, 



