TENDER PLANTS FOR THE SUMMER GARDEN. 



55 



and Grevillea robusla is another subject of particularly 

 graceful habit thai is valuable in sub-tropical gardening; 

 it can be plunged in the bed well over the rim of the pot, 

 and il repotted after being removed in (lie autumn, may 



be kept in g I health Tor some years. 



Melianthus major is a plain that, in certain favoured 

 spots in the south-west, proves hardy in il e open. lis 

 large, deeply-cut, glaucous leaves give it a striking 

 appearance and render it worthy of a position in the sub- 

 tropical garden. In all but very cold localities, or where 

 the soil is exceptionally damp and heavy, il may be 

 kept through the winter unharmed it its roots are 

 covered with leaf-mould, rough litter, cocoa-nut fibre, or 

 coal ashes. 



Musa Ensete is, without doubt, one of t he mi >st attractive 

 features of the sub-tropical garden when in vigorous health. 

 Glass shelter during the winter is a necessity for these 

 plants, though cases have been known where specimens, 

 artificially sheltered, have passed through a winter in the 

 open ; but where they have survived they have usually 



grown in very large pots or tubs under glass during the 

 winter, and plunged in the open during the summer 

 months. Good kinds lor this method ol culture are 

 Latania borbonica, Seaforthia elegans, Phcenix canadensis, 

 and Kentia Forsteriana. Certain ol the Tree Ferns are 

 also exceedingly decorative in the shady parts of the sub- 

 tropical garden. In a few favoured spots in South-western 

 England and Southern Ireland fine specimens of Tree 

 f erns may be seen planted out in the open and apparently 

 in the best of health, but in the majority of cases tub- 

 culture under glass in the winter, and plunging in the 

 open air during the summer, must be the method resorted 

 to. Good kinds for such treatment are Dicksonia antarctica 

 and D. squarrosa, Cyathea dealbata, and C. medullaris. 



Of flowering plants for the sub-tropical garden, Datura 

 suaveolens is one of the most suitable. It has been 

 already referred to. The lofty Cape Hyacinth (Galtonia 

 candicans) also associates well with such subjects, as does 

 Abutilon vitifolium when grown as a tall, pyramidal bush 

 some 8ft. high, and covered with white or lavender 



FLOWERING ALOES. 



received a severe check, which has had the effect of 

 rendering them far less ornamental than if they had spent 

 the winter under glass. Musas may be either plunged 

 in the tubs in which they have been grown through the 

 winter, or the tubs may be removed, and they may be 

 planted in the prepared bed, being lifted carefully in the 

 autumn and taken back to the shelter of a glasshouse. 

 Musas are of particularly rapid growth, seed sown in heat 

 in January or February producing plants that measure from 

 lolt. to I2lt. high in the summer of the following year. 

 There are few more beautiful sights than these Musas 

 when all their leaves are intact and glossy green, few 

 more pitiable than they present when the leaves are 

 whipped into ragged fringes by blustering winds. On 

 this account a very sheltered position should be chosen for 

 planting out these noble subjects. The hardy Fan Palm, 

 Chamaerops Fortunei, Dr excelsa, for the two are 

 practically identical, has already been spoken of. Other 

 Palms to be used in the sub-tropical garden must be 



blossoms. Many plants raised from seed in heat will be 

 found useful for filling up, such as the Castor Oil plants 

 (Ricinus), especially the dark-leaved 1\. Gibsoni, the 

 giant Hemp (Cannabis), Nicotiana Wigandioides, Solanum 

 robustum, S. marginatum, and S. pyracanthum, as well 

 as Maize (Zea Mays) and its variegated form. 



Of course sub-tropical gardening is only possible in 

 very large pleasure grounds. Masses of Cannas, Solanums, 

 Galtonia, or Datura are necessary to get the true effect 

 of these plants. Tub-gardening has been referred to by 

 Mr. Burbidge, and it is to be hoped that this phase 

 of summer gardening will become more popular. There 

 are no difficulties to overcome, and in many cases it is 

 simply necessary to place the plants in a shed or dry 

 cellar during the winter with sufficient protection from 

 frost. The Agapanthus is one of the most charming 

 flowers for tubs, and when not "over-tubbed," that is, 

 too much soil given, blooms abundantly and continuously 

 through the summer months. 



