38 Hardy Plants for 



may be made of it, not the least happy of which would be to plant 

 a tuft of it on the green grass, in a warm spot, near a group of 

 choice shrubs, to help, with many other things named, to fill up 

 the gap between ordinary fleeting flowers, and the taller shrub 

 and tree vegetation that is now nearly everywhere observed. It is 

 better to leave the plant in the ground, in a permanent position, 

 than to take it up annually. Protect the roots in the winter, 

 whether it be planted in the middle of a flower bed or planted by 

 itself in a little circle on the grass. 



Arundo conspicua is a worthy companion for the Pampas, 

 though by no means equal to it, as has been stated by some 

 writers. As a conservatory subject nothing surpasses it, and it will 

 be seen often in large conservatories after a few years. A large pot 

 or tub will be necessary if grown indoors. The drooping leafage 

 will always prove graceful, and then it sends up long silvery plumes, 

 drooping also, and strikingly beautiful. Judging by its different 

 appearance when freely grown in a tub indoors, and when planted 

 out even on favourable spots, my impression is that it by no means 

 takes so kindly to our northern climate as the Pampas grass. How- 

 ever, it is well worth growing, even in districts where it does not 

 attain great development; it comes in flower before the Pampas, 

 and may be considered as a sort of forerunner of that magnificent 

 herb. 



Bambus viridis-glaucescens, and others. — I wish to call the 

 attention of all horticulturists who live in the southern and more 

 favoured parts of these islands to the fact that there are several 

 bamboos and bamboo-like plants from rather cool countries that 

 are well worth planting. Nothing can exceed the grace of a 

 bamboo of any kind, if freely grown ; but if starved in a dirty hot- 

 house, or grown in a cold dry place, where the graceful shoots 

 cannot arch forth in all their native beauty, nothing can be more 

 miserable in aspect. On cold bad soils, and exposed dry places in the 

 British Isles, these bamboos have no chance ; but, on the other hand. 



