The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-27
DECORATIVE FOLIAGE PLANTS
They Are Easy to Grow and Add a
Great Deal to the Beauty of Farm
n City Grounds.
(By III. ERICHSEN.l

AAN ivy 0IOuAlNS.
(By III. ERICHSEN.)
One class Of plants that is unde-
servedly neglected in farm gardens
comprises the many ornamental foil
age plants that are planted for dec
orative effect.
One encounters many more OF these
in the city han in the country, but
there is no reason why they should
not be just as plentiful in the latter.
What can be grown in one, is as cas-
lily grown in the other, and what
beauties the one garden will prove
as much of an to the other
if a little taste is utilized.
A very pretty bed. for instance, can
be arranged by placing a group of
| Ricinus or castor oil bean plants in
the center of a ring Of cannas. Both
of these plants are easily raised, but
since the Ricinus is of rather slow
growth, it is best to start it in the
house sometime in March, to trans
plant to the open ground as soOn as
the danger from late frosts is over.
1t can be raised from seeds, and as
these are inexpensive, they are with
in the reach of 1t is stately
in it's growth, and with it's picturesque
foliage, produces a striking sub-trop-
ical effect. In height it ranges from
five to fifteen feet.
There are different kinds Of castor
Oil bean plants, but in grouping them.
one should not fall into the error Of
putting the different varieties into one
place. 1t will produce a far better
effect, as a rule, to confine oneself to
one kind only.
In this respect everything DEPENDS
upon the effect one desires to pro-
duce. If beautiful, gigantic foliage is
wanted. Ricinus Philippiensis, as it's
name indicates. a variety from the
Philippine Islands, will answer.
{ Ricinus SanguineuS derives it's name
from the blood-red stalks n clusters
: of red fruit that characterize it.
CambedgienSis is an African varie-
ty, and curiously enough its main
: stem and leaf-stalks are jet-black in
color. The "a are large. regular
ly divided, and richly Colored. AS
!. the plant increases in size, the foliage
l assumes different shades. Because of
5 this reason, very striking effects may
T be produced by planting his castor
oil bean in groups.
But the Zanzibariensis. another va
; riety from far-off Africa, surpasses
y all others. The plants attain great di-
Z mansions, presenting a splendid as
= pect with their gigantic leaves. The
. different varieties have light and dark
green leaves, and some Of coppery'
bronze, changing to dark green, with
reddish ribs.
For contrast, place Ricinus Borbon
= iensiS, with its vivid green foliage
growing to a height OF fifteen feet
in the rear, and Ricinus Gibsoni, will
= it's deep-red foliage, that only attain
q height of five feet, in front Of 1t
One with innate taste will have n
difficulty in arranging the plants II
such a way that they will be in per
feet harmony with one another.
# l hope you may not think that
- ~, ncyo " fIn IN n
the Ricinus family because I wishe'
to air my little knowledge of Latir
"a These names are very expressive, an
in either show the character OF the plan
or indicate whence it was derived.
va Thus, Zanzibariensis shows clearl
CO h the plant came from that part {
a. Africa known as Zanzibar, While TN
Nv name Gibsoni indicates that the plaI
was named after the botanist, Glbsol
1n who discovered it.
to Moreover, all these plants are liste
by the scotsman under their Lall
or names, and not under the Engls
fit common designations.
ne When you come to think OF It.,
is really wonderful where all tn
plants in our gardens come from.
,es study Of their origin and how the
ut came to be discovered, would be IL
90 teresting in itself.
nv For the center OF the bed referre
tie to at the beginning of this articl
Oh YOU may prefer to substitute Abyssll
ler ian banana. This is a truly roy
,ly plant, with enormous leaves that a
no All the more striking because of the
red midribs.
Won will find it in the catalogue
nd under the name Of Musa Ensete. Bu
unlike the Ricinus, this is not easi
at. raised from seed, at least that n
Use been my experience.