31 



compartments, of which the most northern contain southern tro- 

 pical Ferns, the next Succulents {Aloe, Agave, Fourcroya, Basy- 

 lyrion, and Bromeliacece) ; the last, which is not divided from 

 the Banksia-house (No. 4), contains similar plants from tempe- 

 rate climes, planted among rocks. 



The eastern connection between the middle and south range, 

 1 2 ft. high, protects herbaceous perennials during winter ; in 

 spring it is used for sowing seeds in pots. 



A similar connecting gallery between the middle and southern 

 range on the west side serves for the protection during winter of 

 Liliacece and Oxalidece of temperate climes. 



The western connection between the middle and north range, 

 14 ft. high, and heated by hot water, consists of three houses, 

 for OrchidacecB, Aroideae, Borstenice, Begonia, and Scitaminea. 

 Epiphytal Orc/tidacea and Bromeliacea are grown on oak blocks 

 and in cork baskets. 



The gardens being as yet without a proper Aquarium, aquatic 

 plants cultivated here in boxes lined with lead and cement. 



At (c) on our plan is a small conservatory for hardy plants of 

 the same height with the western division of the middle range, 

 furnished at both ends with glass doors leading to the enclosed 

 spaces between the houses, and allowing of easy communication 

 without exposing the plants, removed there in winter, to the cold. 



All these houses are only suitable for plants of considerable 

 height, and it was found necessary to add a line of very low ones 

 for the culture of young and tender plants requiring much light 

 and the proximity of glass. This range of low houses has been 

 built in the southern court (e), and in connection with the eastern 

 range. They are span-houses numbered, with the light north 

 and south, and two of them are chiefly used for New Holland 

 and South American tender plants ; in another is a very consider- 

 able collection of Cactea ; and the northern side of it serves, with 

 the assistance of a steam-apparatus, as a propagating house. — 

 Finally, there is at No. 18 a small separate house of high temper- 

 ature, serving partly as a hospital for diseased plants, and partly 

 as a reception-house for new arrivals. 



d and e are the two courts surrounded by the above-mentioned 

 buildings. In north court (d), hardy plants are placed during 

 summer between live hedges, and a good many herbaceous Plants 

 and Cerealia are grown here. The southern court (divided by the 

 line of low houses) contains frames and warm boxes, mould- 

 heaps, and other needful accessories ; along the whole of the 

 southern range the plants contained in the same, likely to bear 

 the open air in summer, are put out during the warm season. 



