THE SUBTROPICAL GARDEN. 



645 



Monstera dcliciosa. — A stout, trailing Aroid, well 

 known in large collections of tropical plants, its large, 

 leathery, perforated leaves being very striking. Grown 

 in pots or tubs and kept dwarf, it may be used for grouping 

 with other plants in the subtropical garden, where, how- 

 ever, it must be regularly watered. Few plants possess 

 nobler foliage. Propagated by cuttings. 



Montagn.e A hcradeifolia ( Polymnia grandis). — A hand- 

 some shrub with large opposite, much-divided, and ele- 

 gantly-lobed leaves 2 to 3 feet long. The stem and leaf- 

 stalks are spotted with white, and the leaves when young 

 are covered with a soft white down. Valuable for isolating 

 in sheltered positions on lawns. Propagated by root- 

 cuttings in autumn or stem-cuttings in spring. 



Musa Ensete. — One of the noblest of all subtropical 

 plants, with enormous pale-green red-ribbed leaves 6 to 

 12 feet long, and growing very freely when plunged out- 

 side in sheltered positions during the summer. If possible 

 a sheltered bay should be provided for this and other 

 large-leaved plants, to prevent them being torn by the 

 wind. M. superba also grows well on warm rich soils in 

 sheltered places. Propagated by seeds. 



Nicotiana. — The Tobacco plants are excellent for sub- 

 tropical beds and groups. The most striking are: — N. 

 tomentosa (colossea), which grows 3 to 5 feet high in a 

 season, and has very large sturdy leaves. Under glass it 

 grows 12 feet high. N. wigandioides, with Wigandia-like 

 foliage, 6 feet. N. sylvestris (fig. 771), a sturdy species 

 with bright-green leaves and pyramidal racemes of large 

 white flowers, like some of the forms of N. Tabacum. 

 N.affinis, with large white, fragrant flowers, is extensively 

 grown. A variegated form of it with silvery-edged leaves 

 is also worth a place. Propagated by seeds sown in heat 

 in early spring. 



Phcenix dactylifera.— The Date - Palm, although of 

 somewhat ragged appearance, is suitable, its hardiness 

 and glaucous-green colour being useful characters. P. 

 canariensis is a noble species with rich-green fronds like 

 enormous ostrich-plumes ; P. scnegalcnsis is said to be 

 hardy in some parts of England. 



Phoemium tenax (New Zealand Flax) is hardy in the 

 south-western parts of England. Its erect, sword-shaped 

 leaves are most effective among large-leaved plants. 

 There are several forms, including a variegated one. 

 Propagated by division. 



Richardia africana (Calla cethiopica) may be planted 

 in groups in the open ground for the summer, and if 

 liberally supplied with water it grows and flowers freely. 



RlClNUS (Castor-oil). — In deep, rich soil, this grows 

 rapidly — as much as 10 feet in some seasons. There are 

 numerous forms of it, the best-known being sanguineus, 

 blood-red ; borbonensis, purple ; giganteus, purple ; Gibsoni, 

 dark-purple, dwarf; africanus, green; macrocarpus, white 

 stems, light-green leaves. Propagated by seeds in heat in 

 early spring. 



Saccharum cegyjptiacurn. — A tall, vigorous, perennial 

 grass forming large tufts of Reed -like downy stems 6 to 

 10 feet high, and clothed with graceful foliage, well 

 adapted for plunging with foliage plants on lawns or by 

 the margins of pieces of water. Propagated by division 

 in spring. 



Seaforthia elegans. — An elegant, pinnate-leaved Palm 

 useful for plunging as an isolated specimen in the shel- 

 tered portions of the pleasure-grounds on account of its 

 graceful beauty and hardy constitution. 



^>ESECiograndifolius(Ghi€sbreghtii). — A thick-stemmed, 

 large-leaved Mexican species, which attains a height of 

 3 to 5 feet in deep rich soils in a single season. In the 



autumn, strong plants develop a large corymbose cluster of 

 ye] low flowers. Useful for isolating on grass, or for beds. 



8. lacmmtun is an elegant plant with slender green, 

 finely-cut foliage. It should not be allowed to flower. 

 Propagated by root- or stem-cuttings, or from seed in 

 heat. 



80LANUM. — Many species of this large genus are hand- 

 some foliage plants eminently fitted for subtropical gar- 

 dening. All propagated by seeds in heat in February, 

 or by cuttings. The following are among the roost 

 suitable: — ■ 



S. call i carp win. Robust, 5 feet high, covered with hairs 

 interspersed with spines, and of a variable grayish-violet 

 hue ; the broad, angular, heart-shaped leaves about 2 feet 

 long. 



S. crinitum. A strong grower, 5 feet high, with stout 

 stems set with short spines and dense long hairs, whilst 

 the roundish, green, purple-veined leaves are 2 feet in 

 length. 



S. giganteum. Large-leaved, about 3 feet high, the 

 under side of the leaves white and downy; a noble plant 

 when isolated on shaded lawns. 



S. hyporhodium. Stem stout, about 5 feet high, branches 

 armed with short spines; leaves 2 feet long, oval, with 

 angular lobes, green with white veins, the under side 

 violet-red and downy. 



S. laciniatum. A strong grower, 3 to 4 feet high, the 

 erect, slightly-branching stems clothed with boldly-cut 

 foliage of a deep-green colour. 



S. rnacranthum. Robust, about 5 feet high, clothed 

 with large-lobed pendent leaves of a pale-green colour 



Fig. 772.— Solarium rohustum. 



with purple-red veins, the under surface reddish. A most 

 effective plant in warm, sheltered positions. 



S. marginatum. A bushy plant 2 to 3 feet high, the 

 oblong, sinuate leaves deep-green covered with silvery 

 tomentum, which is so thick near the edge as to form a 

 white border. 



S. robust ion (fig. 772). 3 to -4 feet high, with large 

 leaves nearly 2 feet long, of a soft-brown colour above, 



