Introduction^ etc. 35 



Gardens at Dublin, there is a singular wigwam 

 made by placing a number of dead branches so as 

 to form the framework, and then planting Aristo- 

 lochia Sipho all round these. It runs over them, 

 and the large leaves make a perfect summer roof. 

 A similar tent might be made with the free-growing 

 gourds, and it would have the additional merit of 

 suspending some of the most singular, graceful, and 

 gigantic of all known fruits from the roof. A few 

 words on their culture, and a selection of kinds, 

 occur at the end of the book. 



Although some Ferns are named in the descrip- 

 tive part of this book, it is desirable to allude to 

 the family here. Why do we always put ferns in 

 the shade, when many of the best and hardiest 

 kinds grow freely in the full sun if sufficiently 

 moist at the root ? Why do we always confine 

 them to the fernery proper, when there are so 

 many other places that could be graced by their 

 presence ? The very highest beauty of form might 

 be added to beds of low flowers, by the introduc- 

 tion of such ferns as the Struthiopteris, Pteris, 

 Lastrea, etc., while they should also be freely 

 planted in various parts of the pleasure-ground, 

 either alone, or grouped with the Acanthuses and 

 other hardy fine-leaved plants. Not a few of the 



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