CHAPTER II. 



Hardy Plants for '•'Subtropical" Gardening. 



HE taste for varying the surface of the flower garden^ and 

 for adding to its interest and character by using plants of a 

 nobler type than we have already generally done, is suffi- 

 ciently developed to make it desirable that we should search out the 

 most desirable hardy plants for such purposes. There are a great 

 many tender plants recommended, a great many used ; but, as usual, 

 the really meritorious are in a minority. In many parts it is a dange- 

 rous and useless thing to place tender plants in the open air for the 

 sake of producing such an effect as may have been seen at Bat- 

 tersea. Some have placed out things that have no chance of look- 

 ing to any advantage out of a hothouse in this country — for 

 instance, all the Bananas except M. Ensete. Only such things 

 should be used as v/ill stand our summer climate without injury, or 

 grow freely and luxuriantly in it. Of course, hardy plants are the 

 very, best of all, but as yet we are far from having a sufficiency of 

 these of the precise type that is required, and we rarely make good 

 use of some fine subjects pretty well known. Nothing is more 

 lamentable than to see a flower garden with tender plants perishing 

 from cold in the middle of summer. The climate and -altitude 

 of the garden will frequently prevent the use of tender things, for 

 it is well known that you may grow many things in the open air 

 about London and southwards which will barely exist, if at all, in the 

 north. Therefore, the position and capabilities of a garden are the 



