136 Subtropical Gardening. 



* FERULAS. 



I WISH it were not necessary to write in praise of such 

 very fine plants as these, so noble in aspect and beautiful 

 in leaf. If 2000 kinds of herbaceous plants are grown, 

 the first things that show clearly above the ground in the 

 very dawn of spring (even in January) are their deep- 

 green and most elegant leaves. In good garden soil they 

 look like masses of Leptopteris superba, that most exqui- 

 site of ferns. Their chief charm will probably be found 

 to consist in their furnishing masses of the freshest green 

 and highest grace in early spring. The leaf is apt to 

 lose some of its beauty and fade away early in autumn, 

 but this may to some extent be retarded by cutting out 

 the flower-bearing shoots the moment they appear. Not 

 that these are ugly ; for, on the contrary, the plants are 

 fine and striking when in flower. It is indispensable 

 that the Ferulas, like some other hardy foliage -plants, be 

 planted permanently and well at first, as it is only when 

 they are thoroughly established that you get their full 

 effect. At a first view, the best way to treat them would 

 appear to be so to arrange them that they would be suc- 

 ceeded by things that flower in autumn, and only begin 

 their rich growth in early summer ; but it will be equally 

 wise to plant them near the margin of a shrubbery, or 

 wherever it is desired to have a diversified and bold type 

 of vegetation. We may look forward to the day when a 

 far greater variety of form will be seen in English gardens 

 than is at present observable, and these Ferulas are 

 thoroughly well worth growing for their superb spring 

 and early summer effect. The best species are F. com- 



