214 



HARDY PLANTS FOR THE 



Akalia Sieboldi is also a valuable species^ usually treated 

 as a greenhouse plant. It is perfectly hardy around Paris 

 and London^ at least on warm soils^ and it not only remains 

 healthful in living rooms during winter^ hut grows freely in 

 them. 



Arundo donaXj the great reed of the south of Europe, is 

 a very noble plant on good soils. In the south of Eng- 

 land it forms canes ten feet high, and has a very distinct 

 and striking aspect. It will do more than that if put in a 

 rich deep soil in a favoured locality ; and those who so plant 

 clumps of it on the turf in their pleasure grounds will not 

 be disappointed at the result. Nothing can be finer than 

 the aspect of this plant when allowed to spread out into a 

 mass on the turf of the flower garden or pleasure ground. It 

 seems much to prefer dry sandy soils to moist ones ; indeed, 

 I have known it refuse to grow on heavy clay soil, and 

 flourish most luxuriantly on a deep sandy loam in the same 

 district. Like all large-leaved plants, it loves shelter. No 

 garden or pleasure ground in the southern parts of England 

 and Ireland should be without a tuft of it in a sheltered spot. 

 But, fine as it is for efi'ect and distinctness, its variegated 

 variety is of more value to the flower garden proper. 



Arundo donax versicolor, — This is a remarkably effec- ; 

 tive and beautiful plant, that is made little or no use of. 

 We have already noticed several fine things for grouping 

 together, or for standing alone on the turf and near the 

 margin of a shrubbery border; and this is as well suited 

 for close association with the choicest bedding flowers as an 

 Adiantum frond is with a bouquet. It will be found hardy 

 in the southern counties ; and considerably north of London 

 may be saved by a little mound of cocoa-fibre, sifted coal 

 ashes, or any like material that may be to spare. In con- 

 sequence of its efiective variegation, it never assumes a large 

 development, like the green or normal form of the species, 

 but keeps tidy and low, and yet thoroughly graceful. It is 

 of course suited best for warm, free, and good soils, and 

 abhors clay, though it is quite possible to grow it even on 

 that with a little attention to the preparation of the ground. 

 But it is in all cases better to avoid things that will not 



