82 Subtropical Gardening. 



leaves, the divisions of which are finely curled or frizzled. 

 In autumn and winter it may be advantageously em- 

 ployed in the embellishment of winter-gardens, the leaves 

 being at their best during that part of the year. 



A still more striking subject is B. o. palmifolia, which 

 attains a height of 6 ft., and bears its leaves near the 

 summit of the stem, having quite a palm-like appearance 

 in the end of the summer and in autumn. This kind 

 might be used with good effect in various positions, as its 

 "cabbage" character is not so evident. The fact of 

 their being cabbages prevents many people from using 

 these really ornamental plants. 



The variegated Kales have been much employed and 

 with a very good result in the winter-garden at Wardie 

 Lodge in Scotland and in other places : they lose their 

 beauty early in spring. " To keep them dwarf and com- 

 pact, and to bring out their fine colours," say Messrs. 

 Stuart and Mein, "we sow at the beginning of March 

 thinly. After the plants are a moderate size, we transplant 

 them into a poorish soil, in an open space of ground, but 

 not too closely together. They remain there until they 

 are wanted for use, when they are removed at any time to 

 the winter-garden. We plant out into our beds in No- 

 vember, and keep the heads with their foliage close to the 

 ground. We cut off all the lower rough leaves, leaving the 

 rich-coloured head or centre, which in all weathers will be 

 found to stand up neat and trim, even in bright frosty 

 weather. As the plants are thus much reduced in size, 

 they can be planted much closer in the beds. We may 

 add that, as in other hybrids, worthless plants will occa- 

 sionally make their appearance : these we discard. No 



