24 Subtropical Gardening. 



continues to grow fresh and vigorously till the late autumn. It is 

 freely propagated by cuttings taken from old plants kept in a very 

 cool stove, greenhouse, or pit during the winter months, and 

 placed in heat to afford cuttings the more readily in early spring. 

 Under ordinary cutting treatment on hotbeds or in a moist warm 

 propagating house, it grows as freely as could be desired, and may 

 be planted out at the end of May or the beginning of June. It is 

 well suited for forming rich masses of foliage, not so tall, however, 

 as those formed by such things as Ricinus or Ferdiuanda. 



Verbesina gigantea, and other species. — To these somewhat 

 the same remarks will serve as have been applied to the preceding. 

 They require about the same treatment, and are useful in the pro- 

 duction of like effects. They, like their fellows, will be much the 

 better for as warm and sheltered a position and as rich and light a 

 soil as can be conveniently given them. 



WiGANDiA MACKOPHYLLA (coracasana) . — This noble plant, a 

 native of the mountainous regions of New Granada, is unquestion- 

 ably, from the nobility of its port and the magnificence of its 

 leaves, entitled to hold a place among the finest plants of our 

 gardens. Under the climate of London it has made leaves which 

 have surprised all beholders, as well by their size as by their strong 

 and remarkable veining and texture. There can be little doubt 

 that it will be found to succeed very well in the Midland and 

 Southern counties of England, though too much care cannot be 

 taken to secure it a warm sheltered position, free good soil, and 

 perfect drainage. It may be used with superb effect either in a 

 mass or as a single plant. It may be raised from seed, and seed is 

 offered of it in some of our catalogues. W. urens is a relative, 

 not so good by any means ; and W. Vigieri has been recently added 

 to our collections, and given a very good character. Some have 

 even asserted it to be better than W. macrophylla, but that is not 

 the case. So far as I have observed it makes a respectable growth 

 in the neighbourhood of Paris, but never assumes the majestic aspect 



