CHAPTER VIII 



FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR TOWNS 



^' Oh, give me the sweet shady side of Pall Mali," 

 " Sweet leaves to the air." 



We have said a good deal about Flowering Plants for 

 town decoration ; there are also non-flowering sets of 

 plants to choose from, which are just as lovely and far 

 more uncommon ; I mean the grand array of foliage 

 plants. 



Some years ago it was my good fortune to be present 

 at one of the prettiest weddings of the season. Not one 

 of the bridesmaids wore a flower. Every bouquet was 

 made of leaves, shaded, striped and coloured ; they were 

 as bright as they were graceful, the effect was indescribably 

 fresh and charming, and was a lesson for ever on what 

 can be done with leaves. 



Furnishing the box or balcony with foliage-plants 

 may be more costly than flowers in the first place, and they 

 require more consideration in arrangement ; but they have 

 useful qualities which render them invaluable. They 

 are much more durable than flowering plants, and less 

 affected by accidents of weather. 



About their beauty there is no question, and their 

 variety, even if we exclude Palms and Ferns, is endless. 

 Luckily for their admirers, it is found that many of those 

 we have been taught to consider hot-house nurslings do 

 just as well in the open air. Nor is there any difficulty 



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