194 Sub -Tropical Gardening. 



tropical gardening is a new feature, and not fitted for every place : but, 

 when space and position offer, it has merits which neither of the others 

 possesses ; and, for lawns or grounds of any extent, it is susceptible of 

 being made a feature unsurpassed in its effectiveness and grand display 

 of magnificent foliage. 



Our climate favors us. With a higher temperature than that of Paris or 

 London, all tropical plants flourish in greater perfection, and grow with 

 unexampled rapidity. The banana, which has been thought only fitted to 

 the high temperature of the tropics, seems entirely at home ; and other 

 plants, which we have considered so sensitive to cold as to require the pro- 

 tection of the greenhouse, even in summer, thrive equally as well. Cer- 

 tainly the season is short : but in this tree of trees we are treated to a feast 

 of rich vegetation which we cannot enjoy only in warmer climates ; for our 

 hot-houses are too small, and the temperature too low, to bring out the vigor- 

 ous growth they attain in the space the free earth of the open garden affords. 



Few attempts have yet been made to introduce this style in such a man- 

 ner as to show its real magnificence ; but something has been done by the 

 introduction of a few of the leading plants to foreshadow its general char- 

 acter. The cannas with their stately growth and massive foliage, and the 

 caladiums with their broad leaves, now very well known, will give an idea 

 of sub-tropical plants. 



These are, however, but two out of many classes of plants equally 

 efficient which may be used in this style of gardening. It is only necessary 

 to name the palms and banana as specimens which flourish freely, to 

 show how varied the vegetation and how grand the effect. 



What is especially gratifying is, that, while many of the so-called bedding- 

 plants can only be kept in the greenhouse in winter, the cannas, caladiums, 

 gunneras, tritomas, &c., may be wintered in any good cellar : hence they 

 may be introduced in gardens where there are no means to secure the 

 others, and at very moderate expense. Though we may here add, for the 

 benefit of some, that any attempt to do sub-tropical gardening in its real char- 

 acter, or, indeed, any style of gardening, without expense, will end in failure. 



^^'ith these few hints on the subject, we have only to allude to a few of 

 the principal plants adapted to this style, to which additions will undoubt- 

 edly be made as experience shall prove them suited to the purpose. 



