] 6 Subtropical Gardening. 



the leaves are magnificent ; and, strange to say, they stand the rain 

 and storms of the neighbourhood of Paris without laceration, while 

 all the other kinds of Musa become torn into shreds. It is an in- 

 teresting and hitherto unknown fact, that the finest of all the 

 Banana or Musa tribe is also the hardiest and most easily preserved. 

 When grown for the open air, it will of course require to be kept 

 in a house during winter, and planted out the first week in June. 

 In any place where there is a large conservatory or winter garden, 

 it will be found most valuable, either for planting out therein, 

 or for keeping over the winter, as, if merely housed in such a 

 structure during the cold months, it will prove a great ornament 

 among the other plants, while it may be put out in summer when 

 the attraction is all out of doors. Other kinds of Musa have been 

 used with us, but have barely grown more in the open air than to 

 make it clear that they should not be so cultivated in this country. 

 This is the only species really worth growing for the open air. Where 

 the climate is too cold to put it out of doors in summer, it must yet 

 be grown in all conservatories in which it is desired to establish the 

 noblest type of vegetation. It has hitherto been generally grown in 

 stoves. Not only are the leaves magnificent in their development, 

 but of a texture that seems to withstand the heaviest rains and 

 storms. The plant is difficult to obtain as yet, but will, I trust, be 

 sought out and made abundant by our nurserymen. It is not gene- 

 rally known that this plant is of a remarkably hardy constitution, 

 and that it will grow well in a greenhouse or conservatory. Planted 

 out in a winter garden, it will grow healtlifully, and I need not say 

 what a magnificent object it is for the decoration of such a place. 

 It also, strange to say, stands the drought and heat of a livino-room 

 remarkabl)' well, and though, when well developed, it is much too 

 big for any but Brobdingnagian halls, the fact may nevertheless be 

 taken much advantage of by those interested in room decoration 

 on a large scale. 



POLYMNIA GRANDIS, MACULATA, AND PYRAMIDAHS. Tliese 



belong to the great composite order, and are distinguished by rich 



