i86 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



of all tender large-foliaged plants grown outside, is that of 

 shelter, as if exposed to high winds the leaves get torn to 

 shreds, and the plants are thereby disfigured, and look 

 unsightly objects in the flower-garden. It is therefore imperative 

 that a sheltered position should be chosen for this phase of 

 sub-tropical bedding. For more exposed situations, and for 

 terrace gardens, the Agaves and Yuccas are amongst the best of 

 stately-foliaged plants, as the leaves are not liable to be damaged 

 by the wind, and the plants themselves are more in accordance 

 with their surroundings. As this class of plants require a 

 considerable amount of room for their accommodation in winter, 

 it is evident that sub-tropical bedding cannot be carried out 

 to any extent, except in very large establishments, where plenty 

 of room is at command during winter. 



To the other group belong the Cannas, the tuberous-rooted 

 Solanums, (S:c., the tubers of which may be taken up in the 

 late autumn, and after being dried, stored away for the winter 

 in a shed or other suitable structure, where they are out of 

 the reach of frost. These may be readily increased by division 

 of the tubers, just as they are starting into growth in the spring, 

 placing them in a warm case until established, afterwards 

 growing on, and hardening off, ready for planting out when all 

 danger of late spring frosts is past. 



With this group may be included numerous robust-growing 

 annuals that are readily raised from seed sown in February, 

 and which make quite large plants, if grown well. Of these the 

 Castor-oil and Tobacco plants are examples. With regard to 

 planting out, the second w^eek in June is about as early as it 

 is safe to plant out Castor-oil plants and other soft-wooded 

 subjects grown from seed. It is preferable to have stout young 

 plants, well-rooted, and carefully hardened off, as they succeed 

 much better than larger specimens grown on in a high 

 temperature and insufficiently hardened off ; in fact, this point 

 constitutes one of the elements of success in the management 

 of these large-foliaged plants. 



Besides the plants mentioned in the following pages, numerous 

 others may be used for sub-tropical bedding, such as Carlina, 

 Aloe, Sumach, Fatsia (Aralia), Funkia, Eryngium, Rheum, 

 Heracleum, Bocconia, Cassia, &c. Also available are some of 

 the ordinary summer bedding plants, such as Coleus, Iresines, 

 Perillas, Beet, Centaureas, Cinerarias, <Scc., which are used either 

 for mixing with the sub-tropical plants in the beds, or as edgings 



