slender, stinging bodies. These are so thickly produced as to give the stems a glistening appearance. W. urens is another species often planted, but decidedly inferior to either of the foregoing, except in power of stinging, in which way it is not likely to be surpassed.
Woodwardia.—This noble genus of ferns is of great and peculiar use in the subtropical garden, where their broad and beautifully arching fronds make very effective objects, especially when planted in a vase, on the top of a stump, or small mound, a little above the level of the eye. The principal species are: W. orientalis, W. radicans, W. japonica, W. virginica, and W. areolata. Of these W. orientalis and W. areolata are hardy, and the others nearly so. They may be used as effectively in the conservatory in winter as in the open garden in summer.
Xanthoso sagittæfolium.—A Brazilian plant with very much the habit and appearance of Caladium esculentum, but not so valuable, having arrow-shaped leaves, of a dark-green colour, supported on rather slender stalks. Another equally handsome and large species is X. violaceum, the leaves and leaf-stalks of which are suffused with a delicate violet hue, slightly inclining to hoariness. Positions and treatment similar to those recommended for Caladium esculentum. They should only be tried in the warmer parts of the country, and not be placed in the open air till the beginning of June.
Yuccas.—Among all the hardy plants ever introduced into this country, none surpass for our present purpose the various kinds of Yucca, or “Adam’s Needle,” as it is commonly called. There are several species hardy and well suited for flower-garden purposes, and, more advantageous still, distinct from each other. The effect afforded by them, when well developed, is equal to that of any hothouse plant that we can venture in the open air for the summer, while they are green and ornamental at all seasons. They may be used in any style of garden, may be grouped together on rustic mounds, or in any other way the taste of the planter may direct. If we had but this family alone, our efforts to produce an agreeable effect with hardy plants could not be fruitless. The free-flowering kinds, filamentosa and flaccida, may be associated with any of our nobler autumn flowering plants, from the Gladiolus to the great Statice latifolia. The species that do not flower so often, like pendula and gloriosa, are simply magnificent as regards their effect when grown in the full sun and planted in good soil; and I need not say bold and handsome groups may be formed by devoting isolated beds to Yuccas alone. They are mostly easy to increase by division of the stem and rhizome; and should in all cases be planted well and singly, beginning with healthy young plants, so as to secure perfectly developed specimens.
Yucca aloïfolia.—A fine and distinct species, with a stem when fully developed as thick as a man’s arm, and rising to a height of from 6 ft. to 18 ft. Leaves numerous, rigidly ascending, dark-green, with a slight glaucous bloom, 18 to 21 inches long and broad at the middle, with the horny margin rolled in for 2 ins. or 3 ins. below the point, and finely toothed in the remaining portion. Flowers almost pure white, in a vast pyramidal panicle. This plant is hardy, but the fact is not generally known. It should be tried on well-drained slopes in good sandy loam. There are some varieties, of which T. a. quadricolor and T. a. versicolor have the leaves variously edged with green, yellow, and red. These fine variegated varieties are also very hardy, but as they are as yet far from common, it will be best to utilise them in the greenhouse or conservatory, or place them in the open air during summer. They look very pretty isolated on the grass, the pots plunged to the rim. S. America and W. Indies.
*Yucca angustifolia.—A somewhat dwarf species, the whole plant, when in flower, not being more than 2 or 3 ft. high. The leaves are thick and rigid in texture, from 15 ins. to 18 ins. long and about ¼ in. broad, of a pale sea-green colour, with numerous white filaments at the edges. The inflorescence is a simple raceme of white flowers slightly tinged with yellow. Till more plentiful this had better be grown in warm borders, in well-drained sandy loam. N. America.
*Yucca canaliculata.—The leaves of this species are entire, i.e. neither toothed nor filamentous at the margin, and form a dense rosette on a stem which rises 1 or 2 ft above the ground. Each leaf is from 20 ins. to 24 ins. long, and 2 ins. to 2¼ ins. broad at the middle, very strong and rigid, and deeply concave on the face. The flowers are of a creamy white, in a large panicle 4 ft. to 5 ft. high. Fine for isolation or groups. Till more plentiful should be encouraged in favourable positions and on warm soils. Mexico.
*Yucca filamentosa.—A very common and well-known species, with a much-branched panicle, 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, and apple-green leaves, from 15 ins. to 21 ins. long by 1½ ins. to 2 ins. broad at the middle, fringed at the edges with grey filaments 2 or 3 ins. long: the outer leaves spreading, the central ones erect or slightly recurved. This species varies very much when raised from seed: one variety (concava) has short, strong, broad leaves, with the face more concave than in the type; another variety (maxima) has leaves nearly 2 ft. long by 2½ ins. broad, with a panicle 7 ft. to 8 ft. in height. This species flowers with much vigour and beauty, and is well worth cultivating in every garden; not only in the flower-garden or pleasure-ground, but also on the rough rockwork, or any spot requiring a distinct type of hardy vegetation: and so is its fine though delicate variegated variety. All the varieties thrive best and flower most abundantly in peaty or fine sandy soil. N. America.
