30 Subtropical Gardening. 



brilliant flowers, and tends to finely vary the flower garden. It is 

 not well to closely associate it with bedding plants, in consequence 

 of the strong growth and shading power of the leaves, so to speak. 

 To make a compact group of the plant in the centre of some 

 wide circular bed, surrounded with a band of a dwarfer subject, say 

 the Aralia or Caladium, and then whatever arrangement may be 

 most admired of the flowering plants, is a good plan — a bold and 

 magnificent centre is obtained, while the effect of the flowers is 

 much enhanced, especially if the planting be nicely graduated and 

 tastefully done. It is a judicious combination of both the green 

 and the gay that we are most in want of, and few things can do 

 so much to effect it for us in the flower garden as the common 

 Castor-oil plant. This combination may, and must be, efifected 

 in any way that taste may direct. A graceful handsome-leaved 

 subject in the centre of a flower bed will help it out, and so will 

 bold groups of fine-leaved plants towards the outer parts of the 

 flower garden. These bold masses connect in some degree the 

 larger ligneous vegetation that usually surrounds our flower gardens 

 with the small and low-lying brilliant flowers. For such groups 

 the varieties of the Castor-oil plant are not likely to be surpassed. 



Seafohthia elegans. — This is perhaps the most elegant and 

 useful of all palms which may be safely placed out in summer. It 

 is too scarce as yet to be procurable by horticulturists generally, 

 but should be looked for by all who take an interest in these matters, 

 and have a house in which to grow it. It stands well in the conserva- 

 tory during the winter, though generally kept in the stove, where of 

 course it grows beautifully. There are hardier kinds — the dwarf 

 fan palm for example, but on the whole none of them are so valu- 

 able as this. The following palms are suitable for like purposes : — 



Areca lutescens. 

 Caryota urens. 



,, sobolifera. 

 Chamaerops humilis. 

 ;, Fortune!. 



Chamaerops Palmetto. 

 Latania borbonica. 

 Phoenix dactylifera. 



„ sylvestris. 

 Corypha australis. 



