342 THE FLORIST. 



and stove Convolvuli, Combretums, Quisqualis, the fine Passion-flowers 

 from the Indies, Thunbergia chrysops, Stephanotis, Echites, Hoyas, 

 and Dipladenias blooming out of doors, to say nothing of Mandevillse and 

 that must beautiful ot all climbers bapageria rosea, of which there can 

 be no doubt. With the strong impression of the success that would 

 result from the trial, I hope that some admirer of this class of plants 

 will try the experiment, even supposing a glass case and pipes for keep- 

 ing a moderate temperature to be necessary dur'ng winter. The novelty 

 and beautiful effect such a wall would produce when once the plants 

 became established, would amply repay the trouble. 



It is well known, that notwithstanding the great practical skill of 

 British gardeners, there yet remains some plants which refuse to bloom, 

 even with all the means and appliances to boot which our cultivators 

 possess. There is, in fact, no known way by which to coax such fasti- 

 dious members of the vegetable kingdom to show us their charms. We 

 may mention many species of Brunsvigias, Nerines, and other Cape 

 bulbs which rarely bloom when grown in pots, and we may add to the 

 above some species of American Alstroemerias, and many rare and 

 curious plants whose names are almost forgotten, so seldom are they 

 seen, from the difficulty of growing them in anything like perfection. 

 With some trifling peculiarities arising from difference of habit, which 

 a little attention would overcome, most of these plants will be found to 

 grow, and we doubt not would bloom freely if planted out in suitable 

 soil, in low pits, and supplied with a very moderate amount of bottom 

 heat. Without entering into details on the causes which prevent their 

 thriving when grown in pots, I may observe, generally, that they 

 dislike their roots being at all disturbed. Similar instances occur in 

 Gladiolus cardinalis and the Belladonna Lily, and many terrestrial 

 Orchids, which when allowed to grow undisturbed, flower freely, but 

 refuse to do so when often removed, and therefore if planted out as 

 above described, and protected during winter by glass frames, which 

 should be removed entirely in the summer, we should have the satis- 

 faction of seeing many very beautiful plants bloom, which now rarely, 

 if ever, do so. The expense, too, of growing them in this manner is 

 much less than keeping them in pots. No better plan for affording 

 them the necessary protection can be found than by forming a low pit 

 immediately in front of a greenhouse or stove, the front wall of the 

 house forming the back of the pit, and hanging the sashes for protection 

 during winter on a plate inserted therein, resting on a low wall, 12 or 

 14 inches high in front ; a pipe from the heating apparatus to furnish 

 bottom heat is all that is required, but it should be adjusted so as to 

 act separately, as it might have to be worked, when not required, for 

 the house. 



In conclusion, our object in bringing the importance of bottom heat 

 for cultural purposes before your readers is owing to the impression v\"e 

 have for some time entertained ourselves, that much of trouble, anxiety, 

 and uncertainty may be saved in our daily practice by employing it 

 more extensively than we do, independent of the increased interest it 

 would give by adding a novel class of flow< '•s to the summer decorations 

 of gardens. Sigma. 



