CHAPTER XXXII 



FOURTH WEEK IN AUGUST 



IT may not be possible in some parts of our islands to 

 create a sub-tropical effect in our gardens, yet there are 

 probably many districts in the south and west, as well 

 as in Ireland, where this style of horticulture might be suc- 

 cessfully carried out if the proper cultivation of these plants, 

 as well as the selection of the best varieties for the purpose, 

 were more generally understood. 



The illustration of the sub-tropical garden in the grounds 

 of Glen-Andred, Torquay, gives but a part of the fine 

 collection of palms, dracaenas, and many other tropical plants 

 which flourish there in luxuriant beauty, growing rapidly year 

 by year (and flowering also yearly) under the special care of 

 their owner, who supervises all that is done by his gardeners. 



The garden slopes gently to the south, facing the waters 

 of Torbay, but is liable to suffer when the north-west wind 

 blows ; yet the broad leaves of the fan-palms are intact, and 

 the dracaenas grow, as in the case of D. indivisa, to the right 

 of the photograph, to the height of 25 feet. Behind the tall 

 stem of this plant may be seen the foliage of an Aralia (fatsia) 

 japonica, which is at the present time in full bloom, the plant 

 reaching the height of 16 feet, with fine leathery leaves of 

 great breadth. Behind the lower part of the dracaena stems 

 may be seen the broad foliage of Musa ensete, the plantain 

 palm ; this plant, however, is the only one in the group 

 which requires to be sheltered in a greenhouse in winter, or 

 otherwise its foliage would probably be reduced to shreds, if 

 the plant itself should survive. 



Just above the fans of a beautiful specimen of Chamaerops 



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