BEAUTY OF FORM IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 229 



hardy and very pretty beside water ; Astilbes, rough herbaceous 

 plants which can be put anywhere almost ; the hardy Bamboos of 

 Japan and India, which are increasing in number, and are very 

 distinct and charming, and often rapid growers in genial parts of 

 the country, especially near the sea. A considerable number will 

 probably be found hardy everywhere. The large leaved evergreen 

 Barberries are beautiful in peat soils, and, grouped in picturesque 

 ways, effective for their noble leaves as well as flowers. 



The Plume Poppy (Bocconia) is handsome for its foliage and 

 flowers, even in ordinary soil. A great number of the larger hardy 

 Compositae (Helianthus Silphium, Senecio, Telekia, Rudbeckia) are 

 fine in leaf, as are some of the Cotton Thistles and plants of that family. 

 The common Artichoke of our gardens and its allies are fine in form 

 of leaf and flower, but apt to be cut off in hard winters in some soils. 

 The Giant Fennels are most graceful early leafing things, thriving 

 admirably in sandy and free soils. Plantain Lilies (Funkia) are 

 important, and in groups their foliage is excellent. The Pampas 

 Grass is precious where it grows well, but in many districts is 

 gradually killed by hard winters. Where it has the least chance, it 

 should be planted in bold masses. 



The great leaved Gunneras are superb near water and in rich soil. 

 The giant cow parsnips are effective, but apt to take possession of 

 the country side, and are not easily exterminated, and, therefore, 

 should be put in with a sparing hand in islands and rough places 

 only. The large Indian evergreen Rockfoils are fine in form, and in 

 their glossy foliage are easily grown and grouped in picturesque 

 ways, and they are very hardy. In sandy and free soils a handsome 

 group of beautiful leaved things may be formed of Acanthus. The 

 new water lilies will help us much to fine foliage, especially in 

 association with the many graceful plants that grow in and near 

 water, as are also certain hardy ferns which may be grown near 

 water, like the Royal Fern, which in rich soil and shade makes leaves 

 as fine as any tropical Fern. In southern districts the New Zealand 

 Flax is effective in gardens, and the great Japan Knotworts (Poly- 

 gonum) are handsome in rough places in the wild garden, and 

 better kept out of the flower garden. Some of the Rhubarbs, too, 

 are distinct and handsome, and very vigorous by the waterside, 

 where the great water dock often comes of itself. It is a stately 

 genus, and though we may not find room for many in the garden, it 

 may be easy to do so by the water side or in rich ground anywhere. 



With our many fine-leaved plants from temperate and cool climes 

 it is possible to have beautiful groups of hardy fine-leaved plants, for 

 trees like the Ailantus and Paulownia make almost tropical growth if 

 cut down close to the ground every year. We have also the hardy 

 Palm (Chamaerops), the Yuccas, and graceful Bamboos, and Siebold's 



