GROUPINGS OF PLANTS IN POTS 127 



are not very long in flower, their supreme beauty makes 

 them desirable. They should certainly be grown in 

 places where labour is not restricted and where there 

 are suitable places for standing such plants away and 

 caring for them in the off season. 



For the same kind of use the Tree Lupines, both 

 white and yellow, would be excellent. Funkia Sieboldi 

 also makes a handsome tub, while for summer filling 

 Cannas are admirable and old Geraniums in bush form 

 always acceptable. I have never seen Acanthus used 

 in this way, but can see no reason against it. The 

 smaller Bamboos, such as the handsome broad-leaved 

 B. tessellata, are very good in tubs. In speaking of 

 plants suitable for tubs, I take the word to include the 

 larger sizes of terra-cotta pots ; but Agapanthus should 

 never be planted in earthenware, as the roots, which 

 remain for many years undisturbed, have so strong a 

 irending power that they will biirst anything less 

 resisting than iron-hooped wood. 



It is rare to see, anywhere in England, plant-tubs 

 painted a pleasant colour. In nearly every garden they 

 are painted a strong raw green with the hoops black, 

 whereas any green that is not bright and raw would 

 be much better. This matter of the colouring of all 

 such garden accessories as have to be painted deserves 

 more attention than it commonly receives. Doors in 

 garden walls, trellises, wooden raihngs and hand-gates 

 and seats — ^all these and any other items of woodwork 

 that stand out in the garden and are seen among its 

 flowers and foliage should, if painted green, be of such 

 ?i green as does not for brightness come ipto competition 



