VARIETY IN THE FLOWER GARDEN 



flowers this year as we did last year, and finally 

 become victims of a narrow conservatism that is as 

 objectionable in gardening as in other spheres. 



As the weakly member of a family is generally favoured 

 and petted more than those better able to look after 

 themselves, so it happens that a delicate plant, some- 

 what more than usually difficult of cultivation, fills a 

 warmer corner in the heart of its grower than those 

 needing a minimum of care. Probably some of the 

 plants I shall mention here will be found to need rather 

 closer attention than those the gardener is more familiar 

 with, but they will fully repay whatever little extra care 

 their growing may involve by their conspicuously fresh 

 colours and handsome foliage. 



How seldom do we come across the Solanums planted 

 out in the summer garden of flowers, those quaint members 

 of the Potato family that have various claims to dis- 

 tinction I Yet many of them are admirably suited to 

 this purpose, and have a striking and uncommon appear- 

 ance. One having a name that no plant ought to be 

 burdened with namely, Solanum Warscewiczii has 

 large, deeply-lobed leaves, and the midribs and stem are 

 covered with red prickles. There is nothing else in 

 the plant world quite like it, but these points do not 

 complete its claim to consideration. Its large white 

 flowers are freely produced. Solanum robustum, that 

 does credit to its specific name by growing 3 feet or 

 4 feet high, also lends itself well to outdoor planting for 



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