384 Notices of Boohs. [July, 



frequently eradicate every trace of beauty of form therein, 

 making the flower garden a thing of large masses of colour 

 only. The author informs us that his guiding aim has been the 

 selection of really suitable subjects, and he has rejected several 

 that have been recommended and tried for this purpose. Many 

 have been excluded which have been long acclimatised in 

 this country; likewise some very tender stove plants, which 

 require too much care. But no tropical or sub-tropical subject 

 that is really effective has been omitted. The illustrations are 

 very numerous, and give a striking idea of the ornamental 

 value in gardens of plants having large and handsome leaves 

 or graceful port. Through the courtesy of the publisher we are 

 enabled to illustrate our remarks with some of the cuts decorating 

 this handsome volume. 



One of the greatest mistakes ever made in the flower garden 

 was the adoption of a few varieties of plants for culture 

 on a vast scale to the exclusion of interest and variety, and 

 too often of beauty or taste. To quote the words of our author, 

 " We have seen how well the pointed, tapering leaves of the 

 Carinas carry the eye upwards ; how refreshing it is to 

 cool the eyes in the deep green of those thoroughly tropical 

 Castor-oil plants with their gigantic leaves ; how grand the 

 Wigandia with its wrought-iron texture and massive outline 

 looks after we have surveyed brilliant hues and richly painted 

 leaves ; how greatly the sweeping Palm leaves beautify the 

 British flower garden ; and in a word the system has shown us 

 the difference between the gardening that interests and delights 

 all beholders as well as the mere horticulturist, and that which 

 is too often offensive to the eye of taste." 



It is a mistake to imagine that this kind of gardening can 

 on.y be indulged in by those who possess conservatories, hot- 

 houses, or other means of preserving tender plants in the winter. 

 What, for instance, can be more beautiful than the Pampas 

 grass, which, when well grown, is unsurpassed by anything that 

 requires protection. There are the Yuccas, noble and graceful 

 in outline, and thoroughly hardy, and which if planted well are 

 scarcely to be equalled by anything of like habits we can 

 preserve indoors. There are the Arundos conspicua and Donax, 

 things that well repay for liberal planting ; and there are fine 

 hardy herbaceous plants, like Crambe cordifolia, Rheum Emodi, 

 Ferulas, and various graceful umbelliferous plants, that will fur- 

 nish effects equal to any we can produce by using the tenderest 

 exotics. The Acanthuses, too, when well grown are very suitable 

 for this use. Among the Yuccas the Y. pendula, considering 

 its graceful and noble habit, is simply invaluable in every 

 garden, and when once planted, may be left year after year 

 without protection. The accompanying illustration shows the 

 grace and symmetry acquired by old and well established speci- 

 mens standing alone on the grass, from the lower leaves which 



