46 OENAJIENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



neglected by us, as a nation. Sab-tropical gardening- 

 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. It ha* 

 taught us to appreciate nature ; shown us that the masses 

 and lines of brilliant colour, with which we have been 

 embellishing our gardens for some years past, can be 

 greatly improred by contrast, and by mixing with them 

 plants having bold and ornamental leaves, also that in. 

 adopting this style we have largely increased the beauty 

 and interest of the garden ; and by this means we can. 

 wander from place to place with the certainty of disco- 

 vering some new feature to relieve and delight the eye,, 

 without the weariness which is felt in being continually 

 confronted with lines of colour. 



Having advanced thus much in favour of sub-tropicab 

 gardening, a few remarks upon what plants to use, and 

 how to use them, will be expected of us ; and in reference- 

 to the kind of plants to use, we must at once warn be- 

 ginners against the error which nearly all have fallen 

 into — that of planting out-doors any plants merely because- 

 they are exotics. The result of such a proceeding is any- 

 thing but satisfactory or pleasing. The first thing to- 

 recommend a plant for this purpose is a decided character 

 of its own — something that -will stand out in bold relief 

 and contrast with all its surroundings, either as regards- 

 the shape of leaf, size of leaf, colour, or habit. A clump> 

 of Cannas form a beautiful group, and contrast splendidly 

 with a fan-leaved Palm, or with such plants as Wigandias^ 

 Castor Oil Plants, or some of the fine Aralias, and manj 

 other such comparisons might be made. The more dis- 

 tinctness there is in the plants used, the finer will be the 

 tropical efiect obtained, and the greater the interest ia 

 the garden. 



The chief object therefore to keep in view, whether 



