350 FLOWERS AND BEDDING PLANTS, 



half-hardy plants of recent introduction, which are remarkable for 

 the great size, or rich colors of their leaves, are large enough to 

 form, by themselves, groups of considerable size and beauty, from 

 midsummer till frost. Of these, the different varieties of the 

 ricinus (castor-bean plants) are the most imposing in height, 

 hreadth, and size of leaves. The tree ricinus, Ji. borboniensis 

 arboreus, grows in one season to the height of fifteen feet ; the R. 

 sanguineous, ten feet ; the silver-leaved, R. africanus albidus, eight 

 feet, and the common castor-oil bean, R. communis, five feet. 

 These are all great spreading plants. The arunda donax is a tall 

 plant resembling the sugar-cane, grows rapidly to the height of ten 

 feet, and takes up but little room horizontally. The magnificent 

 cannas are of all sizes, from two to seven feet in height, and mass 

 well either in beds by themselves, or with low plants of lighter- 

 colored foliage in front of them, and the arunda donax or the Japan- 

 ese striped maize behind them. The Japanese striped maize is a 

 curiously beautiful species of corn from four to six feet in height, 

 ■with leaves brightly striped with white and green. The hollyhocks 

 are noble perennials greatly neglected. Few plants make so showy 

 a display massed in beds, to be seen at a little distance. Height, 

 three to six feet. The wigandia caracasana is a very robust 

 bedding-plant which attains the height of six feet, and is remark- 

 able for the size and beauty of its leaves. The Nicotea atro- 

 purpurea grandiflora is also noticeable for the robust beauty of its 

 foliage, to which is added the charm of showy dark-red blossoms. 

 The beauty of the gorgeous-leaved colleus verschafelti is pretty 

 well known. In the open sun, and in rich moist soil, each plant 

 will form a compact mass of foliage two feet in height and 

 breadth. It also makes a brilliant border for the larger plants. 

 The larger geraniums can also be used for the same purpose, and 

 sweet peas, the larger Oenotheras, the lillium giganteum, and many 

 others, are good taller plants to place behind them. While masses 

 of shrubs usually display their greatest floral beauty in the spring 

 and early summer, these grand annuals and semi-tropical plants 

 attain their greatest luxuriance of leaf and bloom at the season's 

 close. The brilliantly-colored or variegated-leaved plants, most of 

 which are half-hardy, require to be propagated and grown in pots 



