HARDY PLANTS FOR THE SUBTROPICAL GARDEN. 211 



Fig. 



some hardy things with otherwise fine qualities^ to retain 

 its leaves tiU the end of the season without losing a particle 

 of its freshness and polished verdure. In fact, the only thing 

 we have to decide about this subject is, what is the best 

 place for it ? Now, it is one of those things that will not 

 disgrace any position, and will prove equally at home in the 

 centre of the 

 mixed border, 

 projected a little 

 from the edge of 

 a choice shrub- 

 bery in the grass, 

 or in the flower 

 garden ; nobody 

 need fear its dis- 

 playing anything 

 like the seediness 

 which such things 

 as the Heracleums 

 show at the end 

 of summer. In 

 fact, few things 

 turned out of the 

 houses will fur- 

 nish a more satis- 

 factory efiect. I 

 should not like 

 to ad"vise its being 

 planted in the cen- 

 tre of a flowerbed, 

 or in any other 

 position where re- 

 moval would be 



necessary ; but in case it were determined to plant permanent 

 groups of fine-leaved hardy plants, then indeed it could be 

 used with great success. Supposing we have an irregular kind 

 of flower garden or pleasure ground to deal with (a common 

 case everywhere), one of the best things to do with it is to 

 plant it in the grass, at some little distance from the clumps, 



p 2 



Acanthus latifolius (lusitaiiicus). 



