3 6 Subtropical Gardening. 



Umbelliferous plants recommended have foliage as 

 finely cut as any of the Ferns, and would associate 

 very well with them. Even in cases where the 

 soil might not be suitable for ferns, it would, instead 

 of confining them to the fernery proper, be much 

 better to arrange for having small groups or beds 

 of them in places alongside of shady wood-walks 

 or similar positions. By reference to the Osmunda 

 article, it will be seen how these have been grown 

 to magnificent proportions. It may be easily ima- 

 gined that groups of fine ferns, grown to the luxu- 

 riance there described, would contrast with and 

 relieve groups of the brilliant flowers in a superb 

 way. 



As the culture of most of the subjects has been 

 sufficiently spoken of in the descriptive part, it is 

 needless to say much of it here, but a few general 

 remarks may help to make the matter clearer to 

 the amateur. It is hoped that the greater number 

 of the hardy subjects enumerated will sufficiently 

 prove that it is not only those persons who have 

 streets of glass-houses to whom the luxury of 

 "subtropical gardening" is accessible. Once placed 

 in suitable soil and position, these hardy kinds may, 

 as a rule, be left to take care of themselves. 



A great number of subjects, like the Ricinus 



