1 8 Subtropical Gardening. 



spaces between them would be so large, as to leave 

 plenty of room to plant the others. However, it 

 is worth bearing in mind, that most of the Cannas, 

 by far the finest group of " Subtropical " plants for 

 the British Isles, remain through the winter in beds 

 in the open air protected by litter : hence, perma- 

 nent combinations of Lilies and Cannas are perfectly 

 practicable. 



Then, again, we have those brilliant and graceful 

 hosts of Gladioli, that do not show their full beauty 

 in the florist's stand or in his formal bed, but when 

 they spring here and there, in an isolated manner, 

 from rich foliage, entirely unlike their own pointed 

 sword-like blades. Next may be named the flame- 

 flowered Tritoma, itself almost subtropical in 

 foliage when well grown. Any of the Tritomas 

 furnish a splendid effect grouped near or closely 

 associated with subtropical plants. The lavishly 

 blooming and tropical-looking Dahlia is a host in 

 itself, varying so much as it does from the most 

 gorgeous to the most delicate hues, and differing 

 greatly too in the size of the flowers, from those of 

 the pretty fancy Dahlias to the largest exhibition 

 kinds. Combinations of Dahlias with Cannas and 

 other free-growing subtropical plants have a most 

 satisfactory effect ; and where beds or groups are 



