Subtropical Gardening. 43 



the whole plant improves in aspect. It must not be forgotten in 

 any selection of hardy plants of free growth and imposing aspect. 

 From seed will probably be found the best way to raise it, and then 

 one would be pretty sure of securing plants of both sexes. 



ELYMUS ARENARIUS. This British grass this strong-rooting and 

 most distinct-looking herb is capable of adding a striking feature 

 to the garden here and there, and should be quickly introduced to 

 civilization. Planted a short distance away from the margin of a 

 shrubbery, or on a bank on the grass, and allowed to have its own 

 way in deep soil, it makes a most striking object. In short, it 

 deserves to rank fourth among really hardy big grasses, the Pampas 

 and the two Arundos alone preceding it. I am not quite certain that 

 it is not more useful than the Arundo, being hardy in all parts of 

 these islands. In very good soil it will grow four feet high, and as 

 it is for the leaves we should cultivate it, if the flowers are removed 

 they will be no loss. It is found frequently on our shores, but more 

 abundantly in the north than in the south. The variety called geni- 

 culatus, which has the spike pendulous, is also worthy of culture, 

 and in its case the flowers may prove worth preserving. It may 

 possibly be useful for covert, and is certainly so for rough spots in 

 the pleasure ground and in semi-wild places. 



ERIANTHUS RAVENNA. This is noticed more in consequence 

 of its being recommended in some of our seed catalogues of late 

 than from any merit it is likely to possess for the English cultivator. 

 Around Paris it makes a tolerably strong growth, but I fear it is not 

 worthy of extensive cultivation there or in England. 



THE FERULAS. I wish it were not necessary to write in praise 

 of such very fine plants as these, so noble in aspect and beautiful in 

 leaf. If you grow 2000 kinds of herbaceous plants, the first things 

 that show clearly above the ground in the very dawn of spring 

 (even in January) are the deep green and most elegant leaves of 

 these ferulas. In good garden soil they look like masses of 



