HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS, ETC. 245 



or group and the smaller ones on the outside. Most of the 

 leading florists and seed- and plant-dealers now offer an 

 abundance of beautiful varieties at low prices, and when a 

 small stock is once obtained by a little skill in keeping 

 them through the winter it may be increased very rapidly. 

 CASTOR-BEAN (Ricinus communis), Fig. 142. This 

 plant is especially ornamental on account of its broad lobed 

 leaves, large showy panicle of flowers, and fruit-pods. The 

 seed should be started under glass in April, and be grown 

 to a foot or more in height before planting out to obtain 



FIG. 143. CALADIUM (Caladium esculentum). 



results early in the season. They should not be put out 

 into the open ground, however, until about June 1st. As 

 a single specimen in the centre of a large bed or as the 

 background for other small foliage-plants they are very 

 effective. 



CALADIUMS (Caladium esculentum}, Fig. 143. The 

 leaves of this plant are broad and heart-shaped, often 2 feet 

 across, and hanging obliquely on the leaf-stalk make very 

 beautiful borders for beds of caunas or castor-bean plants, 



