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BY I HE LAKE AT BLENHEIM PAKE, OXFORDSHIRE. 



FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 



THE useful greenhouse foliage plants are fewer than that of those that require a higher 

 temperature, but still many of these last will be benefited if taken into the 

 cooler structure during the summer, where they are particularly valuable in 

 adding variety and lightness to large masses of flowers. Plants grown in the 

 greenhouse can be taken into a dwelling-house for some time without injury. Greenhouse 

 foliage plants, that is those which can be kept throughout the year in that structure, are : 



Aralia Sieboldi. — A stout-growing plant with large Fig- 

 like leaves of a leathery texture, a good indoor plant. There 

 is also a variety which has leaves variegated with white. 

 This is a useful room plant, and it succeeds out of doors in 

 mild climates. It is very ornamental and easily grown. 



ArailCaria. — A family of large trees nearly related to the 

 Fir family, some members ol which are remarkable for 

 their exceedingly symmetrical style of growth. The best 

 are: A. Bidwilli, a bold-growing plant with deep 

 green leaves iin. wide, and tapering to a very sharp 

 point ; A. Gooki, flat-growing branches, with the minor 

 branchlels drooping ; A. Cunninghami, greyish green 

 foliage, with irregularly disposed branches ; A. excelsa, 

 the most symmetrical of all, and ageneral favourite, being 

 grown in thousands by some nurserymen. The branches 

 are disposed in regularly arranged tiers, each branch, 

 including the minor branchlets, being almost flat and 

 frond-like. Except A. Bidwilli, the leaves of those 

 mentioned are needle-shaped. 



Arundo donax variegata. — A form of Reed that 



pushes up stems 6ft. high, clothed with leaves over ift. 

 long and 2in wide, green and white striped. 



Asparagus. — The different species referred to under the 

 held of greenhouse climbers all make effective decorative 

 plants when grown in small pots, that is anything less 

 than 6in. in diameter. 



Aspidistra llirida. — No other plant is more useful than 

 this for the dwelling-house. There is a variety with 

 variegated leaves. The Aspidistra is readily increased by 

 division, which should be carried out in April or May. 



Bambusa faleata. — An exceedingly graceful plant now 

 much in demand. The long wand-like shoots are well 

 furnished with minor branchlets, which in their turn are 

 clothed with bright green leaves, thus forming a highly 

 ornamental obje t. 



Carina. — The different varieties of Canna now take high 

 rank as flowering plants, yet regarded only from a foliage 

 point of view they are very desirable. In colour the leaves 

 vary from a light glaucous green to a deep brownish 

 purple. Their culture was fully dealt with when con- 

 sidering plants for the sub-tropical garden. 



Carex. — The Sedges which are included in the genus 

 Carex are a very numerous class, and many of them are 

 but w eeds, vet the variegated forms are very pretty green- 



