84 THE SQUARES, PLACES, CHURCH GARDENS, ETC. 



have a tree Paeony, the tall Japanese Polygonum, and a 

 large-leaved Solanum. Passing two clumps of shrubs, and 

 between them an entrance, we meet with another strip of 

 green grass, adorned with four distinct plants — the Pampas 

 grass, the Irish Yew, Melianthus major, Hibiscus roseus, 

 and so on. It should be distinctly understood that these 

 plants stand singly and isolated on the grass, so that their 

 character may be seen. In the mixed clumps and planta- 

 tions near there are plenty of opportunities of seeing the 

 effects of things when grouped or massed. 



Between the walk and the beautiful old tower there is 

 a little lawn, and in one nook of that deep green carpet, 

 sheltered on three sides, but coming boldly into the view 

 from the greater part of the square, is a specimen of the 

 noblest of fine-leaved plants, the great Abyssinian Musa. 

 It is about twelve feet high : the base appears quite two 

 feet in diameter, the young leaves made during the season 

 are perfectly intact, eight feet long each, a great red taper- 

 ing midrib, like a huge billiard cue, running from base to 

 point of each, and from this supply- pipe the gracefully 

 waved venation curls away towards the margin. Backed 

 by the foliage of the trees of our own latitudes, it forms a 

 striking and noble object indeed. Then, in the immediate 

 foreground, there is a mass of a scarcely less striking plant, 

 the edible Caladium, which springs from a groundwork of 

 fragrant mignonette, edged with the woolly Gnaphalium ; 

 and so in like manner are sparsely scattered over the green 

 (they wisely keep the central parts clear to secure a little 

 breadth and repose), striking specimens or groups of speci- 

 mens, some of which it would pay the city to grow, if it 

 were only to give art students living specimens of Nature's 

 finest leaf forms. I know some botanic gardens ten times 

 the size of this little square, which fail to furnish anything 

 like so good an illustration of the diversity and beauty of 

 the vegetable kingdom, and others where huge, tasteless and 

 formal arrangements prevent an equally agreeable impres- 

 sion from being obtained. 



Amidst the whole stands the famous old tower, with its 

 leaves and figures in stone, a thing of beauty and interest 



