1 70 Subtropical Gardening. 



material used as paper by the ancient Egyptians. The 

 rootstocks spread horizontally under the mud in places 

 where the plant grows, continuing to throw up stems as 

 they creep along. These stems are triangular and grow 

 from 3 ft. to 8 ft. high ; they are quite leafless except 

 at the top, where they bear a large parasol-like tuft of 

 green, gracefully-arching filaments. Shallow parts of 

 pieces of water in a warm position are the most suitable 

 places for this plant. It may, however, also be planted 

 in soil which is kept constantly moist. Multiplied by 

 division of the rootstocks ; the pieces to be planted 

 under water, if possible. In gardens south of London 

 this fine plant may be tried in the open air in summer 

 from June till September in warm spots ; if not planted 

 in shallow water, or the artificial bog, it should receive a 

 very liberal supply of water in summer. 



*Paulownia imperialis. A Japanese tree of mode- 

 rate size, with a large, dense, spreading head, and broad, 

 entire or lobed, opposite leaves covered with hoary 

 down. The flowers are nearly 2 ins. long, in terminal 

 panicles, and of a purplish-violet colour. Young plants, 

 say of a year, or in the first spring of their existence as 

 independent plants, will, if cut down to the ground, make 

 a luxuriant growth during the current year, and indeed 

 prove more effective than the Ferdinanda eminens. The 

 stem rises quite vertically and with great vigour, and 

 looks simply a column of noble leaves. Plants growing 

 in an ordinary nursery-quarter were (Sept. 8, 1868) 7 ft. 

 and 8 ft. high from the ground, and the leaves from 

 20 ins. to 22 ins. in diameter. It was noticeable, too, that 

 those at the top of each shaft were as large as those half- 



