4 



latter is even more indispensable. Flower beds in tbe English sense of the word, can scarcely be 

 achieved in this climate at anything much under 3,000 feet above sea-level, but a very large number 

 of beautiful plants which could not be grown under the direct rays of the tropical sun thrive and 

 bloom perfectly in partial shade. The most completely successful Verandah I happen to be ac- 

 quainted with, is that of " The Hermitage," in the parish of Hanover. By judicious and skilful 

 management it is kept forever fresh and bright; to step into this cool retreat, this fairy bower of 

 geenery and bloom, out of the glow and glare and flash of the sunshine, is always a luxury and a 

 drlight. The lady to whose care and skill it owes its perennial loveliness has — in answer to my re- 

 qeuest thai she would do so — sent me a short description, and a few excellent practical hints, which I 

 will copy verbatim for the benefit of those to whom they should be useful. 



"]Vly Verandah faces due North, the Stephanotis (of which there are several plants both old and 

 young) is the principal creeper ; it is trained in festoons, which come about half way down the trellis 

 work pillars, thus affording shade to both Verandah and sitting rooms. At intervals, between the pillars, 

 1 have small shelves, on which I place long narrow boxes filled with the lovely foliage begonias, etc. 

 The pots along the edge of the stone flags contain gloxinias, the delicate pale blue flax, pepperomia, and 

 different kind of lilies, amaryllis and so on, geraniums, caladiums, Phlox, Achimenes and other well 

 known pot plants. I must not forget to mention among the plants that I find flourish most 

 luxuriantly in my Verandah, the tall graceful Begonia rubra and the white waxlike begonia, these 

 I have growing in large pot shaped boxes, they send up strong healthy shoots which twine in and out 

 among the Stephanotis, and the drooping clusters of their scarlet blossoms contrast charmingly with 

 the white Stephanotis. The Verandah is not more than two feet from the ground, and I have a 

 border of Eucharis lilies and maiden-hair ferns extending from one end to the other, completely 

 hiding the mason work. Being under the deep eaves of the house the lilies are not injured by heavy 

 rains, and they flower abundantly. At both corners of the Verandah I always plant large clumps of 

 climbing nasturtiums, which are very effective. 



The compost I use, and which I find equally satisfactory for all the plants is well-rotted stable 

 manure, leaves and cut grass mixed with a certain amount of silver sand. This compost is well sifted and 

 the pots kept constantly supplied with it, without disturbing the roots of the plants. My nursery is under 

 a large Ficus Benjamina, and as soon as any plant on the Verandah begins to get shabby it is taken away 

 to the nursery, carefully trimmed, transplanted and left to recover itself, and in a very short space of 

 time it is in a condition to reappear in public. Fuchsias grow and flower well in my cool shady nur- 

 sery, but if removed to the Verandah they soon droop and wither." 



Another lady from the same district mentions that she finds asters grow well and readily in a 

 Verandah. She says : — "I sowed my asters in boxes out of doors, and when strong enough trans- 

 planted them into a box in my Verandah, where they throve and were quite covered with large 

 flowers pink, white, purple and lavender. Begonias of various kinds also do well, and pinks, Phlox, 

 and candy tuft." 



No doubt this small list of plants suitable to Verandah Gardening could be almost indefinitely 

 enlarged if other ladies would also give us the benefit of their experience. 



Selina Heaven. 



PLANTS IN FLOWER OR FRUIT AT CASTLETON GARDENS. 



It may be convenient for visitors to Castleton to know which of the more interesting plants in the 

 Garden may be expected to be in flower or fruit during the month, and therefore the following short 

 notes are drawn up for their use : — 



Flower. — Pachira aquatica, a tree with large handsome flowers, belonging to the same family as 

 the Silk Cotton Tree, and the Mahoe. It is a native of tropical South America and some of the West 

 Indian Islands. Some of the species yield good fibre from the bark. 



Gordonia anomala is a shrub, only known from Hong Kong, with large white flowers. It be- 

 longs to the same family as the Tea and Camellia. 



Eugenia caryophyllala is the tree yielding cloves, which are the dried unopened flower-buds. It 

 is a native of some of the famous Spice Islands of the East Indies. 



Quassia amara. The wood is the original Quassia from Surinam which acquired reputation as a 

 drug When the demand exceeded the supply, it wns found that a native tree of Jamaica ( Picrana 

 excelsa ) was of equal value ; it is known as Jamaica Quassia or Bitter Wood. 



Erythroxylon Coca is the shrub which yields the famous coca leaves, indispensable to the Indians 

 of Peru. An Indian with a chew of coca leaves in his mouth will travel for two or throe days without 

 food, and with no desire to sleep. 



Fruit. — Semecarpus Anacardium is the Marking Nut Tree of India. The juice of the nut is used 

 for marking cotton clothes ; it is mixed with a littlo quicklime and water. But it is so acrid in its 

 nature, that care has to bo taken in its use. It is, however, applied in India by the natives for 

 rheumatism and sprains, for warts, and in scrofulous eruptions. This tree is related to the Cashew, 

 but the receptacle (the Cashew fruit) is small in the Marking Nut Tree. 



Barringtonia spcciosa has a remarkable four-angled fruit. From the seeds an oil is expressed 

 used for lamps, and also for mixing with bait to stupefy fish. 



Averrhoa Oarambola, the Carambola tree of the East Indies, produces an abundance of prettily- 

 shaped yellow fruits, which are acid and make an agreeable preserve. The dried fruit is given in 

 fevers, and is also an antiscorbutic. The Bilimbi ( Averrhoa Dilimbi) has a somewhat similur fruit, 

 which grows on tho trunk of the tree. 



