116 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



It will be observed that a house of this form admits an immense 

 flood of lateral light. To make the best of the case, therefore, there 

 is a bed on either side of the path, and on this bed are placed such 

 plants as require least light all winter of any, comprising ferns, 

 hydrangeas, crinums, aspidistras, certain bulbs, such as liliums, 

 etc. All the shelves are formed of open spars, therefore between 

 the pots some light is diffused, and all kinds of plants are kept in 

 this way, but the bulk of the stock consists of zonal geraniums. 

 During the past month, the house has been cleared out, and the 

 shelves reduced to one on each side above the ferns, and one on 

 each side close under the apex of the roof. Plants are growing too 

 fast now to allow of this superposition without harm, but then the 

 weather permits the transference of many things to frames, pits, 

 and even to the open air. By these several contrivances, therefore, 

 we gain several ends, and we cap them all with the economy with 

 which the scheme has been carried out. Mr. Lynch AVhite seconded 

 our views most admirably in fitting the boiler and pipes, the whole 

 costing (including nearly 200 feet of pipes) less than thirty pounds. 

 As for the Paxtonian, it does the work of three houses of its own 

 size every day throughout the year ; but in winter it does the work 

 of half a dozen, for the path is always crowded, so that there is only 

 just enough room for one to creep along it. "When a place is meant 

 for work solely, and not for show, it is not hard to bear with a few 

 arrangements that would be unbearable if associated with decorative 

 features. The lean-to in its original state was figured and described 

 at page 118 of the volume for 1863. S. H. 



ON PEONIES. 



BY M. EOTJILLAED. 



fHE herbaceous and Tree Pseonies of China are well known 

 to rank amongst the most ornamental plants which have 

 found a place in our gardens. Their large flowers, dis- 

 posed in elegant disorder, or with graceful regularity, 

 assume the most varied colours, and are appreciated not 

 only by florists, but also by artists, who produce them in their orna- 

 mental designs. The plants are, moreover, very hardy, and they 

 have an indefinite longevity. 



The Tree Paeonies thrive in peat earth, either pure, or mixed with 

 fertilizing substances, and generally in any sweet porous garden 

 earth rendered fertile by well-decayed manure. They commence 

 growing so early in spring that the first shoots and flower-buds are 

 sometimes destroyed by frosts if not protected. Nevertheless they 

 generally develop themselves, in spite of such accidents, from the 

 lower eyes, which give fresh flowers, and in all cases the plants them- 

 selves are not affected in respect to their vitality. Some persons 

 cultivate Tree Paeonies in conservatories, in prepared earth which is 



