August  13,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  BORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
157 
TROPICAL  TRAITS  IN  BRITISH  GARDENING. 
Subtropical  gardening  has  in  our  own  day  received  c  niiderable 
attention,  and  it  is  one  of  those  phases  of  gardening  which  has  escaped 
the  more  severe  criticism  to  which  the  bedding  system  has,  now  and 
again,  been  subjected.  True,  the  latter  is  pervaded  by  formality  which 
has  no  place  in  the  former  j  but  where  that  criticism  embraces  as  one 
of  its  chief  charges  the  creation  of  effect  by  the  brief  employment  of 
many  tender  things  which  pass  the  greater  part  of  their  existence 
nnder  glass  protection,  involving  a  vast  amount  of  laboar  in  either 
their  keep  or  production,  or  both,  then  it  is  perhaps  a  matter  of 
surprise  that  the  tropical  system  has  not  fallen  under  the  same 
condemnation. 
It  must  be  obvious  to  all  who  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  good 
designation  of  subtropical  plants  ;  bat  whatever  they  are  called,  or  what¬ 
ever  plants  are  utilised  for  the  purpose,  they  are  all  means  to  the  one  end 
— that  is,  the  creation  of  a  tropical  effect  during  the  short  season  that  is 
vouchsafed  to  ns. 
Yet  this  phase  of  gardening  appears  to  be  proof  against  criticism  so 
far,  and  probably  will  remain  so  to  the  end.  It  is,  indeed,  in  some 
places  one  of  the  most  pleasing  features  met  with  in  the  short  summer 
season.  From  its  peculiar  requirements,  being  less  boldly  assertive  than 
the  more  conspicuous  phases  of  decorative  art,  it  seldom  or  never  fails  to 
please,  and  short-lived  as  is  this  triumph  of  the  gardener,  least  fulfilling, 
perhaps,  what  is  aimed  at,  it  is  no  less  suggestive  of  what  is  intended. 
It  may  be  a  matter  of  regret  that  freer  employment  of  these  noble, 
handsome,  or  graceful  foliage  plants  cannot  be  made.  It  may  be  just  as 
well  that  things  are  as  they  are,  and  we  are  not  tempted  to  attempt 
Fio.  34 -A  HOME  IN  TRINIDAD. 
examples  of  the  subtropical  style,  in  which  Talms,  Musas,  Tree  Perns, 
and  the  various  noble  foliage  plants  play  a  prominent  part,  that  a  con¬ 
siderable  expense  of  labour  is  entailed  for  a  shorter  period  than  even 
our  tender  bedders  enjoy.  In  some  palatial  gardens,  either  public  or 
private,  where  one  comes  across  a  pleasing  example  of  this  planting, 
there  is,  I  think,  .a  feeling  accompanying  it,  whilst  bearing  in  mind  the 
fitfulness  of  our  summers,  that  these  temporary  visitors  from  more 
genial  climes  not  inaptly  suggest  through  their  whispering  foliage 
“  Brief  life  is  here  our  portion.”  And  brief  it  is,  truly.  They  are  the 
last  to  leave  their  artificial  protection,  and  probably  the  first  to  regain  it 
in  the  autumn.  One  gardener,  at  least,  I  know  who,  expeditious  as  he 
is  to  complete  his  summer  planting,  lingers  so  long  about  taking  out 
these  tender  things,  that  it  is  not  until  a  few  reminders  come  from  the 
Castle  that  the  work  is  done,  and  he  never  appears  quite  easy  until  they 
are  again  protected  from  the  stormy  winds  that  blow. 
This,  of  course,  principally  concerns  the  permanent  objects  which  are 
grudgingly  loaned  to  the  scenic  effect.  To  complete  the  picture  there  are 
a  number  of  supernumeraries  pressed  into  service,  involving  infinitely  more 
labour,  requiring  annual  production,  and  considerable  preparation  to  fit 
them  for  the  ordeal  of  expo'  ure,  These  latter  more  fitly  come  ond^r  the 
I  the  incongruous  by  bringing  this  planting  into  juxtaposition  with  the 
bold  and  massive  architectural  outlines  of  our  stately  homes. 
There  cannot,  I  think,  be  but  one  opinion  about  the  harmonious 
relation  between  tropical  foliage  and  architectural  design,  as  illustrated 
in  the  picture  (fig.  34),  reproduced  from  a  photo  of  Mr.  Centino’s  resi¬ 
dence  in  Trinidad,  West  Indies.  Here  we  have  a  one-storied  structure 
slightly  elevated  on  piles,  with  its  creeper-clad  verandah,  embowered  in 
stately  Palms,  through  au  avenue  of  which  the  view  is  obtained.  It  is 
essentially  a  tropical  scene.  Apparently  no  tropical  scene  can  be 
i  entirely  complete  without  Palms,  for  an  artist  who  wished  to  convey  on 
j  canvas  an  impression  of  similar  scenery,  to  leave  them  out  would  be  like 
I  the  play  of  “  Hamlet "  with  the  Prince  of  Denmark  omitted. 
I  In  the  sheltered  situation  of  some  warm  nook,  well  protected  at  all 
I  points  from  strong  winds,  or  in  the  clearing  afforded  by  some  space  in 
!  the  depths  of  a  shrubbery,  some  happy  examples  of  subtropical  gardening 
i  are  occasionally  to  be  met  with,  yielding,  as  they  do,  such  distinctive 
I  and  charming  effects,  unprovocative  of  invidious  comparison.  This 
!  style  of  gardening  will  probably  long  remain  a  feature  in  those  places 
where  true  lovers  of  the  beautiful  have  room  ia  their  heart*  and  grounds 
for  all  ^WanDJSBBB 
