130 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDEKING. 



^inifera). Of tiie Honeysuckles, two or tkree kinds 

 are very pretty when used in fairly long- sprays : the 

 variegated form {Lonicera aureo-reticulata), and the 

 free-flowering white variety (i. brachypoda), are two 

 of the hest. 



Among green-house plants and climbers, we have 

 several valuable helps ; one of the best is Ficus repens 

 and its smaller form, F. repens minima. These can 

 be grown on any damp, green wall, that would other- 

 wise be an eyesore. The variegated variety of 

 Solanum jasminoides is a pretty thing in its way when 

 used in fairly long pieces. From the stove-house we 

 obtain a wealth of richly- coloured and diversified 

 foliage that is a most material aid in all choice 

 decorations ; supplies of which may often be taken 

 in lieu of using so many flowers, giving, by so doing, 

 a greater variety in the arrangements, as well as 

 being a considerable saving in flowers also. Small 

 leaves of the Alocasias, such as A. metallica, A. macro- 

 rhiza variegata, and A. Jenningsi, can be effectively 

 arranged with bold flowers. Their near allies, the 

 Caladiums, are another type of useful ornamental- 

 leaved plants to cut from ; C. argyrites (the Silver- 

 leaf Caladium) being the very best of the whole 

 genus, yielding an immense number of its ^mall 

 leaves during a lengthy season. Like the Aiocasias, 

 the small leaves of all the other sorts of Caladiums 

 will be found the most available. 



The South African Asparagus {A. plumosus nanus) 

 is one of the most valuable additions that have been 

 added to our collections of late years. To the floral 

 decorator it is an inestimable aid in almost any kind 

 of arrangement. Its beautiful branches, which are 

 finer than the fronds of the most delicate fern, are 

 of a bright cheerful green. Sprays of this Asparagus 

 have the valuable property of retaining their fresh- 

 ness in water for two or three weeks ; I have 

 kept it in good condition myself in rooms where 

 a quantity of gas is daily consumed, for the lesser 

 time named. The sanie spray can be used for nights 

 in succession, without the aid of water to keep it 

 fresh, provided it be placed in water during the 

 day-time. This property of great persistency will 

 cause it to be inuch sought after when it becomes 

 better known. The great drawback to its more 

 extended cultivation at present is the difiiculty 

 that is experienced, by expert propagators even, in 

 increasing the stock. Asparagus tenuissimus is an- 

 other beautiful species, also from South Africa ; it 

 is quite distinct from A. plumosus nanus, and better 

 adapted perhaps for entwining around the slender 

 stems of many glass vases than that species. These 

 kinds of Asparagus will in time be formidable rivals 

 to. our more favourite ferns, on which so many now 

 rely for cut purposes. Cissus discolor is an old 

 favourite, without a rival in its way ; nothing sur- 



passes the richness of the markings of its beautiful 

 leaves before they arrive at maturity. Long shoots 

 of this Cissus, when grown in a fair amount of sun- 

 shine, are beautiful objects if stretched out on a 

 white table-cloth, or for circling among the branches 

 of silver epergnes. 



The large family of Crotons, to which so many 

 choice additions have been made of late years, gives 

 us an immense variety of richly-coloured foliage. 

 The individual leaves of the broader forms and many 

 of the long pendulous types can frequently be turned 

 to good account for dinner-table decorations, showing 

 to advantage when under artificial light. The 

 narrower-leaved varieties can be used in the form 

 of single shoots also ; any beautifully - coloured 

 shoot even, of either form, might be cut from the 

 plant and used for one night, and in the morning be 

 returned to the garden for propagation without any 

 fear of injury. The Fittonias give us some beautiful 

 objects for dwarf arrangements and as a carpeting to 

 table plants. F. argyroneura is the best adapted for 

 cutting from, looking very pretty when dotted over a 

 fresh tuft of Selaginella denticulata. The Marantas 

 furnish us with a distinct type of foliage, that asso- 

 ciates well with white and light-coloured flowers. 

 The leaves, however, have a propensity of curling up 

 and becoming imsightly in a few hours. The beau- 

 tiful spathes of Maranta Warscewiczii are most wel- 

 come when in flower, the ivory-white contrasting so 

 well with the dark velvety foliage. Amongst the 

 Screw Pines we make good use of one variety in a 

 cut state — viz., Fandanus graminifolius. Its grass- 

 like foliage is very light and elegant. The Stove 

 Grass {Panicum variegatum) is so well known, it 

 scarcely requires any recommendation. Small shoots 

 can be worked in around the bases of such flower- 

 vases as are dressed out so as to rest on the table- 

 cloth. Paullinia thalictrifolia will be found most 

 serviceable, being both elegant and distinct in its 

 growth, which is semi-scandent. Shoots of moderate 

 length will produce a beautiful effect as a margin to 

 any vase of a foot or more in height, allowing the 

 points to abnost touch the cloth. The handsome 

 shell-like leaves of the Peperomias are very appro- 

 priate additions to many arrangements ; they last 

 well too in a cut state, and supply us with a substitute 

 for Caladium argyrites during the winter months. 

 Being freely produced, one can well afford to cut 

 them liberally. The Tradescantias, again, give us 

 another variety of foliage to which we can turn 

 pretty frequently without fear of injury. 



Another beautiful climbing plant is Myrsiphyllum 

 asparagoides, from the Cape of Good Hope; if this be 

 grown in a temperate house, with the convenience of 

 an open border, so that its roots can ramble at their 

 own will, an abundance of material for entwining 



