Subtropical Gardening. 7 



it is presentable throughout the summer. Prefer therefore dwarf, 

 stocky plants when planting it in early summer. It should have 

 rich deep soil and plenty of water during the hot summer months. 

 The open air of our country suits it better than the stove, and 

 chiefly no doubt because it is very liable to the mealy bug when kept 

 indoors in the free air this pest is washed away by the rain. For 

 the public gardens of Paris it is kept under ground in caves during 

 the winter ; but in private gardens with us it will doubtless be 

 worthy of a place in the greenhouse throughout that season. It is 



FIG. 2. Aralia papyrifera. 



easily increased by cuttings of the root. It is usually planted in 

 masses, edged with a dwarfer plant ; but as a small group in the 

 centre of a bed of flowers, or even as an isolated specimen in a 

 like position, it is capital. The stems of this plant have a very 

 fine pure white pith, which, when cut into thin strips and otherwise 

 prepared, forms the article known as rice paper. It is rare for a 

 plant to be so useful both in an ornamental and economic sense. 



