32 Hardy Plants for 



first things that should be taken into consideration. It by no 

 means follows that because a place proves cold and uncongenial to 

 many tender subjects which have afforded a good effect about 

 London, that we should rest satisfied with the usual tame aspect of 

 things. There is no part in these islands for which fine, verdant, 

 and distinct-looking hardy flower-garden plants will not eventually 

 be found, if they be not in the country already. 



More than that, we may produce as good effects from the use of 

 hardy plants alone as any afforded by what are called " subtropical,' 

 and in the following pages an attempt is made at pointing out the 

 most suitable kinds to use. It is a most important subject, and 

 concerns every gardener in the British Isles ; for however few can in- 

 dulge in the luxury of rich displays of tender plants, or however rare 

 the spots in which they may be ventured out with confidence, all may 

 enjoy those that are hardy, and that too with infinitely less trouble 

 than is required by the tender ones. Those noble masses of fine 

 foliage first displayed to us in this country by the able and energetic 

 superintendent of Battersea Park, have done much towards cor- 

 recting a false taste. "What I wish to impress upon the reader is, 

 that let him live where he may in these islands he need not despair 

 of producing enough of like effect to beautifully vary flower garden 

 or pleasure ground ly the use of hardy plants alone ; and that the 

 noble lines of a well-grown Yucca recurva, or the finely-chiselled, 

 yet graceful fern-like spray of a graceful young conifer, will aid 

 him as much in this direction as anything that grows either in 

 tropical or subtropical climes. 



The herbaceous collections in the Jardin des Plantes are very full, 

 and correctly kept ; and being much devoted to such plants, I 

 rarely spent a week without visiting them, chiefly to discover 

 useful plants in this class ; while, of course, such as are used 

 in the various public parks and gardens also came repeatedly 

 under my observation. Of their relative importance and value I 

 was, perhaps, the better prepared to judge from having visited for like 

 purposes all the botanic gardens in the British Isles witliin the past 

 few years. The following are the finest subjects we can use : — 



