SUBTROPICAL PLANTS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN. 189 



SO as wheii young and without side branches. It may be 

 raised from seed as easily as a common bedding plant. By 

 sowing it early in the year it may be bad fit for use by the 

 first of June ; but plants a year old or so^ stifi", strongs and 

 well hardened ofi" for planting out at the end of May^ are 

 the best. It would be desirable to raise an annual stocky as 

 it is almost as useful for room decoration as for the garden. 



AsPLENiuM NIDUS-AVIS. — This is a very remarkable fern, 

 which has been placed out of doors in the garden in summer, 

 but it is not vigorous or hardy enough to be generally 



Fig. 63. 



Asplenium nidus-avis. 



recommended for this purpose. However, as it may have 

 been noticed in abundance at Battersea Park during the 

 past season, I allude to it here. It is a popular subject in 

 places where large collections of tropical ferns are grown, 

 and in such a plant may be tried in the open air in a very 

 warm, shady, and perfectly sheltered position. 



Caladium esculentum. — This species has proved the 

 best for out-door work of a large genus with very fine foliage. 

 It is only in the midland and southern counties of Great 

 Britain that it can be advantageously grown, so far as I have 

 observed ; but its grand outlines and aspect when well de- 

 veloped make it worthy of all attention, and of a prominent 

 position wherever the climate is warm enough for its 

 growth. It does very well about London, and may have 



