46 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



under the alias of C. Fortune!, a fact to be noted. The 

 European Fan Palm (C. humilis) may be distinguished from it 

 by the thorny projections on the leaf-stalks, the narrower plaits 

 of its leaves, and by the offsets, which are thrown from the 

 base of the stem. It is also somewhat dwarfer in growth. 

 Both are good stand-by plants, doing well out of doors during 

 summer, but needing shelter from wind and draughts even 

 more than frost in winter, as the broad leaves are easily torn 

 and disfigured. Acanthus, so much more grown in pots as 

 room- and basket-plants on the Continent than with us, should 

 never be omitted. A. latifolius and A. spinosus are two 

 distinct and useful species. Aralia sieboldi, another well- 

 known evergreen, may be set down as indispensable. Small 

 plants of Muhlenbeckia, with foliage recalling the Maiden-hair 

 Spleenwort, is desirable for many purposes. All sprays of it 

 that have been used with cut flowers may be kept, and if they 

 have not already begun to root in the water, may be given the 

 benefit of a fresh jug to themselves, where they can complete 

 the operation at their leisure. In due time several of the 

 rooted sprays may be potted together and make pretty basket- 

 plants. Perhaps others may have found no difficulty, but 

 until the above method of striking cuttings of this graceful 

 evergreen was accidentally discovered, I never once succeeded 

 in rooting a plant of it by ordinary means. The jug, which 

 provides darkness for the rooting stems, is a point to be noted. 

 Such minute details are very amateurish, but like an old 

 cottage friend who always planted her cuttings of Lemon 

 plant, in firm faith, under a Gooseberry bush, " I do believe 

 there be sum'at in it ! " 



For mixing with spring bulbs, Solomon's Seal is one of 

 the most charming of foliage plants. There should be a well, 

 prepared bed in some spare corner of the garden from which 

 in the autumn the best roots can be taken for potting, the 

 smaller tubers being replanted for the following year that they 



