THE GARDEN-ROOM 29 



plants of hedychium Gardnerianum. Of these, only 

 the caladium comes indoors during winter with me. 

 A very favourite foliage plant of mine is this 

 elephant's ear. Some monster roots came to me 

 from the tropics, and they have gone from strength 

 to strength. The mighty leaves, full of wonderful, 

 mingled greens, are grand to see. It prospers any- 

 where, but best likes my bog basin, assumes quite 

 enormous dimensions there, and reflects its huge 

 leaves in the pond. I dig it up to put it out of 

 danger in the winter, and that corner of the garden 

 always seems lonely when it has gone. Everybody 

 knows the feeling of desertion after some favourite 

 thing passes away and leaves a whole weary year to 

 be endured without it ; but I never heard of any 

 other gardener feeling the least sentiment about 

 elephant's ear. Of course, if one transfers it to a 

 pot and keeps it in the greenhouse or conservatory, 

 it will go on with the business of living cheerfully 

 enough. This is what I have to do with wigandia 

 Vigieri also. I reduce his luxuriance, trim him back 

 and pot him up long before danger of frosts. I fell 

 in love with him lolling over a wall at Mentone. 

 There he attains the size of a small tree, and flowers 

 magnificently. In February he is a mass of fine 

 purple blossom above the gigantic leaves, and glad- 

 dens the heart in company with acacia, tecoma, 

 sparmannia, roses, and citrons in fruit. I have grown 

 wigandia from seed, and during summer he makes 

 noble efforts to justify himself with us ; but the time 

 of genial temperature is too short, and he has to be 



