2io S^lbtrop^cal Gardening. 



the various kinds of Yucca, or " Adam's Needle," as it 

 is commonly called. There are several species hardy 

 and well suited for flower-garden purposes, and, more 

 advantageous still, distinct from each other. The effect 

 afforded by them, when well developed, is equal to that 

 of any hothouse plant that we can venture in the open 

 air for the summer, while they are green and ornamental 

 at all seasons. They may be used in any style of 

 garden, may be grouped together on rustic mounds, 

 or in any other way the taste of the planter may direct. 

 If we had but this family alone, our efforts to produce 

 an agreeable effect with hardy plants could not be fruit- 

 less. The free-flowering kinds, filamcntosa and flacdda, 

 may be associated with any of our nobler autumn flower- 

 ing plants, from the Gladiolus to the great Statice latifolia. 

 The species that do not flower so often, like pendula 

 and gloriosa, are simply magnificent as regards their 

 effect when grown in the full sun and planted in good 

 soil; and I need not say bold and handsome groups 

 may be formed by devoting isolated beds to Yuccas 

 alone. They are mostly easy to increase by division of 

 the stem and rhizome ; and should in all cases be 

 planted well and singly, beginning with healthy young 

 plants, so as to secure perfectly developed specimens. 



Yucca aloifolia. A fine and distinct species, with 

 a stem when fully developed as thick as a man's arm, 

 and rising to a height of from 6 ft. to 18 ft. Leaves 

 numerous, rigidly ascending, dark-green, with a slight 

 glaucous bloom, 18 to 21 inches long and broad at the 

 middle, with the horny margin rolled in for 2 ins. or 



