SUBTROPICAL GARDEN. 



217 



spot at Bicton many have seen Bambusa falcata send up 

 young shoots,, long and graceful, like the slenderest of 

 fishing-rods, while the older ones were branched into a 

 beautiful mass of light foliage of a distinct type. The same 

 plant has been grown in the county of Cork to a height of 

 nearly twenty feet. This is the best known kind we have. 

 At Paris I was fortunate enough to observe several other 

 kinds doing very well indeed, although the climate is not so 

 suitable as that of Cork or Devon. These are Bambusa edulis^ 

 aurea, nigra^ Simmonsii, mitis, Metake, and viridis-glauces- 

 cens, the first and last of this group being very free and good. 

 All the others will prove hardy in the south of England and 

 Ireland, though, as some of them have not yet been tried 

 there, it requires the test of actual experiment. Those who 

 wish to begin cautiously had better take B. Simmonsii, 

 viridis-glaucescens, nigra, and edulis to commence with, as 

 they are the most certainly hardy, so far as I have observed. 

 The best way to treat any of these plants, obtained in 

 summer or autumn, would be to grow them in a cool frame 

 or pit till the end of April, then harden them ofi* for a fort- 

 night or so, and plant out in a nice warm spot, sheltered also, 

 with good free soil — taking care that the roots are carefully 

 spread out, and giving a good free watering to settle the soil. 

 There are no plants more worthy of attention than these where 

 the climate is at all favourable, and there are numerous moist 

 nooks around the British Isles where they will be found to 

 grow most satisfactorily. The pretty little Bambusa For- 

 tunei is also harcly. 



Among the Centaureas there are a few subjects which 

 might be used among hardy fine-leaved plants, but by far 

 the most distinct and remarkable is the very silvery-leaved 

 C. babylonica. This is quite hardy, and when planted in 

 good ground shoots up strong spikes clad with yellow flowers 

 to a height of ten or twelve feet. The bloom is not by any 

 means so attractive as the leaves ; but the plant is at all 

 times picturesque. 



Beta cicla var. ('^^ Chilian Beet^^). — Under the name 

 Chilian Beet^'' a very showy plant may have been seen in 

 the neighbourhood of Paris during the past two years. 



