] 



196 SUBTROPICAL PLANTS FOR THE iXOWER GARDEN. . 



cuttings, and requires a dry greenhouse shelf in the winter. ^ 



Light sandy earth, not of necessity very poor, will suit it i 



best in the open air. It is likely to become one of the | 



most popular of all garden plants. [ 



Ferdinanda eminens. — This is one of the tallest and 

 noblest subtropical plants, growing well in the southern 

 and midland counties : wherever it is supplied with rich soil 



and abundant moisture. It is also very much the better ^ 



for being sheltered, and so are all large and soft-leaved : 



plants. Where the soil is rich, deep, and humid, and the i 

 position warm, it attains large dimensions, sometimes grow- 



ing over twelve feet, and suspending immense pairs of op- j 



posite leaves. It will in all cases form a capital companion j 



to the Castor-oil plant, and, though it may not be grown ^ 



with such ease in all parts, it should be in every collection, ; 



considering that it grows quite as well in the south of i 



England as in the neighbourhood of Paris. It requires to ] 



be planted out in a ■ 



young state, and grows I 



freely from cuttings. i 



Greenhouse treatment \ 



will do in winter. It j 

 is better to keep a stock 

 in pots through the sum- 

 mer to afford cuttings, 



though the old ones may j 



be used for that purpose. j 



Ficus ELASTiCA (India- \ 



rubber Plant). — Another ^ 



fine old plant, for which ' 



we have lately found a * 



new use. It is one of ] 



those valuable leathery- ' 



leaved things that are i 



useful in hothouse, draw- j 



ing-room, or flower gar- 1 



den. It not only exists j 

 in the open air in summer 

 in good health, but makes 



1 

 I 



Fia. 68. 



Ficus elastica. 



