2 OKNAilENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



fectlj understood in using' the term " Ornamental-foliaged 

 Plants," being fully aware that to those whose inclinations 

 lead them into close intercourse with nature, everything 

 is beautiful, and we have therefore prefixed the word 

 " choice " to the title, and confine ourselves to the most 

 strikingly beautiful and elegant-leaved kinds. How it 

 was that we were so long learning to love these highly 

 ornamental plants, it is difficult to say; but we are be- 

 coming thoroughly alive now to the noble and massive 

 beauty displayed by some, to the graceful and elegant 

 outlines of others, and to the richness and singularity in 

 the colours and markings of the leaves of many more. Let 

 us pause, however, and state distinctly, that, great as our 

 love may be for Ornamental-leaved Plants, we do not wish 

 to exalt them, to the annihilation of the Ornamental-flower- 

 ing plants; for although the beautiful-leaved plants are 

 exceedingly ornamental and gay when grouped together 

 by themselves, we are fully persuaded that a judicious 

 selection from both classes, according to the space at 

 disposal, is the surest means of producing a gay and 

 cheerful effect throughout the entire year. 



What a blank it would make in our stoves and con- 

 servatories, were we to be suddenly deprived of our 

 elegant Terns, noble Palms, highly coloured DraciBuas, 

 massive Agaves, and gracefiil Cordylines, not to mention 

 such plants as Marantas, Dieffenbachias, Anthuriums, 

 Alocasias, and a host of other highly coloured and elegant 

 plants. The older plant collectors were continually re- 

 minding us of the richly painted foliage they had met 

 with in the tropics, but which they had never sent home, 

 because no one ever thought of growing a plant except 

 for the flowers it produced; and they were constantly 

 urging upon horticulturists at home the great beauty 



