TENDER HANDSOME EOLIAGE PLANTS. 43 



and foliage of magnificent size which may be advan- 

 tageously introduced in any rough ground which it is 

 desirable to ornament without much loss of time. The 

 Seracleum giganteum and Seracleum asperum are bien- 

 nials of such rapid growth, that they have been known 

 to attain a height of 12 or 14 feet in one year. The 

 stem is fluted, the leaves of enormous size, and the com- 

 pound umbels of white flowers large in proportion. It is 

 their size, and the boldness of their foliage and growth, 

 which render them so handsome to fill a place where a 

 large object is required. They are raised from seed, which 

 ripens in abundance, and they do well in a moist situa- 

 tion, near a pond^ as they require a great quantity of 

 water. 



The Tree Mallow {Laveiera arhorea) is another bien- 

 nial of grand proportions, although not so large as the 

 heracleum ; it is a splendid and very ornamental plant 

 where one is wanted of bold rampant growth. 



The Henbane, Hijoscyamus, is also handsome when it 

 is planted out so as to stand alone. 



CHAPTER VII. 



TENDER nANDSOME EOLTAGE PLANTS. 



[N'ow that plants which take their beauty from their 

 splendid and gaily variegated foliage are so popular that 

 they form a main feature at the shows, and have become 

 especial horticultural favourites with all who can by any 

 means compass the cultivation of a few of them, it will 

 not do to pass over even the tenderer varieties without 

 casual mention. To cultivate largely the splendid-leaved 

 plants introduced within the present century, many of 

 them quite recently, requires the aid of stove or green- 

 house ; but persons who have an extensive flower garden, 

 and who can aid their efl"orts to supply it with those 



