dy, and therefore cannot be
recommended for culture in the open garden. My reasons for mentioning
it are that it is convenient to do so when the typical form is under
notice, and that it is frequently spoken of as hardy. Subjects needing
well selected positions, protection, and a mild winter in order to keep
them alive from autumn to spring, can in no sense be considered hardy,
even though they may be planted out of doors.

Flowering period, August to October.

Yucca Gloriosa.

GLORIOUS YUCCA, ADAM'S NEEDLE; _Nat. Ord._ LILIACEAE.

A hardy evergreen shrub which has long been grown in England, but for
all that is not often met with in private gardens. It is a native of
South America, and was brought to our shores in 1596. The genus is
remarkable for not flowering constantly in our climate, and also for
slow growth; fortunately, both these drawbacks, if one may term them
such, are counter-balanced by the handsome foliage of the various
species, mostly of an evergreen and very durable nature, and also by the
bold and symmetrical arrangement of the same. This Yucca flowers in the
autumn, but it may be considered more especially a foliage subject, as
the bloom is insignificant compared with the leaves and is not produced
more than once in four years as a rule. The leaves assume their richest
hues and become thoroughly matured about the end of the year; and when
the ground is covered with a thick coat of snow, their rigid forms are
amongst the very few of any note that can be seen. In any garden, no
matter how large or how small, a Yucca imparts a style or character to
it which scarcely any other subject can give. It may not be so easy to
explain this, but the fact is recognised by the most casual observer at
first sight. If I say the effect is tropical, noble, rich, and sometimes
graceful, a partial idea of its ornamental qualities may be conveyed;
but to know its value and enjoy it, it should be grown. The species
under consideration has many forms, some differing rather widely from
the type, so much so that these varieties are honoured with specific
names. First may be given a brief description of the parent form.

It grows from 3ft. to 6ft. high, according to the more or less
favourable conditions. These dimensions apply to blooming specimens; but
shrubs, three to six years old, if they have never bloomed, may not
exceed 1ft. to 2ft. in height, and about the same in diameter. The
flowers, as may be gathered f