28 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



worthy of a place. Like its humble relation the 

 common groundsel, it has an objectionable habit 

 of scattering its fluffy seed to the four winds of 

 heaven as soon as the plant is out of flower. 

 This, to be sure, could be avoided by cutting 

 off the old flower-heads as soon as they are 

 over, but would be rather a Herculean task in 

 gardens where it has spread into great beds. 

 The plant is impatient of drought, and its foliage 

 soon flags in the heat of the sun unless its roots 

 are well supplied with moisture, and it will be 

 discovered that its roots run far in the ground 

 in search of it, which, combined with its practice 

 of seeding itself in undesirable situations, makes it 

 a dangerous plant to introduce unawares to a 

 garden, as, once established, it is there for good. 



Farther to the west of the town are the gardens 

 of Quinta Magnolia, which cover an extensive area, 

 largely increased by the present owner, until they 

 now extend down the slope of the hill to the 

 bed of Ribeiro Secco, or the Dry River. To those 

 interested in the culture of palms these grounds 

 will be of great interest, as the collection is a good 

 one, and includes some very fine specimens, seen to 

 great advantage, standing on slopes of the nearest 

 approach to turf which the island can produce. 



