Astilbe Bambusa. 7 1 



pretty hardy, the Astilbe usually succeeds well in any- 

 cool rich soil, and best in half-shaded positions. Easily 

 multiplied by division. It is suited for isolation, borders, 

 fringes of shrubberies, or for groups of hardy plants. 



*Astilbe rubra. A very pretty and hardy plant, also 

 resembling a Spircza in habit and appearance, and grow- 

 ing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high. The leaves are twice ternate, 

 with oblique, heart-shaped leaflets, i in. to 2 ins. long, 

 and with lengthened serrated points. The flowers are 

 numerous, in dense panicles, and of a rose-colour, appear- 

 ing late in summer and in autumn. The same positions, etc., 

 as those for the preceding kind. North America, Japan, 

 and mountains of Northern India. 



*Bambusa. I wish to call the attention of all horti- 

 culturists who live in the southern and more favoured 

 parts of these islands to the fact that there are several bam- 

 boos and bamboo-like plants from rather cool countries 

 that are well worth planting. Nothing can exceed the 

 grace of a bamboo of any kind if freely grown ; but if 

 starved in a crowded house, or grown in a cold dry place, 

 where the graceful shoots cannot arch forth in all their 

 native beauty, nothing can be more miserable in aspect. 

 In cold bad soils and exposed dry places in the British 

 Isles these bamboos have little chance ; but, on the 

 other hand, they will be found to make most graceful 

 objects in many a sheltered nook in the south and south- 

 western parts of England and Ireland. We have some 

 knowledge of the capabilities of one kind in this country. 

 In a well-sheltered moist spot at Bicton I have seen 

 Bambusa falcata send up young shoots, long and graceful, 

 like the slenderest of fishing-rods, while the older ones 



