GUNNBRA 
293 
GUNNERA. 
Of all plants grown in the open air in 
our varied climate these are the most 
singularly distinct. Their appearance 
indeed is so different from that of all 
ordinary vegetation that in some cases 
they do not seem to harmonise with it, 
but they have a singular attraction for 
many growers. There are about a 
dozen species, varying from gigantic 
herbs in which a horse and his rider 
might stand concealed, to tiny creep- 
ing plants which in moist places of the 
southern hemisphere cover the ground 
with a dense carpet. While most abun- 
dantin South AmericaandNewZealand, 
they occur in regions as far apart as 
SouthAfrica,Abyssinia,Java,Tasmania, 
and Hawai. Seven or eight species have 
been introduced, but of these some are 
dwarf kinds seldom seen save in collec- 
tions, the Giant Rhubarbs — G. chileiisis 
and G. majiicata — being those with 
which gardens are adorned. 
It is in the moist parts of Ireland, 
the south-west of England, and the 
Channel Islands, that these fine plants 
are best seen. They thrive in light rich 
soil, well manured and well drained, 
and attain their full size in places beside 
water where the ground is moist. They 
will also grow well in rich soil of a drier 
character, but without their waterside 
luxuriance. There must be shelterfrom 
rough winds, or the great leaves are 
spoiled before their time ; good drainage 
is also important, for where Gunneras 
fail it mostly comes from the stagnation 
due to a cold sub-soil. Several years 
elapse before the plants show their char- 
acter, though when the ground is dug 
and well manured to a depth of several 
feet, growth is rapid, particularly if the 
plant is well protected during winter 
by a layer of dry Beech leaves, with the 
cut leaves of the plants laid over all as 
a thatch. The covering may be removed 
at the end of March, but a light wrapping 
should still be kept at hand to guard 
against late frosts which cripple the 
plant at the outset. The first leaves 
are often the finest (especially if the 
plant is given a dressing of ammonia 
on starting) and their injury means a 
serious check to the plant. A dressing 
of cow-manure and frequent waterings 
with liquid manure wonderfully in- 
creases the size of the leaves ; as much 
as three cart-loads of manure is some- 
times given to a single large plant at 
one dressing. Themassiveflower-spikes 
are more curious than beautiful and 
many gardeners remove them as fast as 
they come to save the crowns from ex- 
haustion. Increase may be by division 
and by seeds, which ripen freely enough 
in this country though the young plants 
grow slowly at first. It is well to have 
a spare plant or two coming on, for in 
certain soils the Gunnera exhausts itself 
rapidly and dies away soon after reach- 
ing maturity. This is best provided for 
by planting groups of three in soils of 
this nature, the distant effect being still 
that of a single crown. Seedlings of 
both these Giant Rhubarbs vary some- 
what in character, size and shape of 
leaf, etc., and to this is due the two or 
three varieties of G. chileiisis now found 
in gardens. If young plants of the two 
kinds were compared the choice would 
be for chile7isis^ which is at first neater 
