230 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Plantain Lily (Funkia), and plants of a similar character. Amongst 

 those annually raised from seeds, and requiring only the protection 

 of glass to start them, we have much variety from the stately Castor- 

 oil-plant to the silver Centaurea. Although tender plants in pots are 

 effective in summer in special positions, plants that cannot stand 

 out-of-doors from the beginning of June until the end of September 

 can hardly be called fit for summer gardening. Among the most 

 suitable are several kinds of Palm, such as Seaforthia elegans, 

 Chamaerops excelsa, and C. humilis ; Aralias, various ; Dracaenas, do. ; 



Group of house plants placed out for summer. Harrow Lodge, Dorking. 



Phormium tenax and its variegated form ; Yucca aloifolia variegata, 

 Ficus elastica, and some Eucalyptus. Erythrinas make fine autumn 

 groups and are brilliant in colour, and useful for lighting up masses 

 of foliage. 



The hardiest Tree Fern, Dicksonia antarctica, looks well when 

 plunged in shady dells with overhanging foliage for shelter ; and 

 several varieties of dwarf Ferns, such as the Bird's-nest Fern, are 

 admirable for undergrowth to this Fern. Plants raised from seed 

 will, however, usually form the majority, owing to the lack of 



