1873.] COWAN'S LIME KILN HEATING. 569 



They are evergreen shrubs, with a rambling, vigorous habit of 

 growth, belonging to the natural order Solanaceae, and are natives of 

 Mexico and Central America, from whence they were introduced into 

 British gardens about the year 1844. Though of easy culture in pots, 

 and very beautiful in the comparatively limited accommodation af- 

 forded by an ordinary greenhouse, it is as pillar shrubs planted out in 

 the border of a lofty conservatory that we would recommend them : as 

 such they have few rivals, and may be so managed as to have them 

 in flower during the greater part of the year. In regard to soil, a 

 good compost may be made of two-thirds rich turfy loam, not chopped 

 too fine, and one-third well decomposed leaf-mould, with the addition 

 of as much, sharp sand as will keep the mass sufficiently porous to 

 allow the water to pass off freely. The pot or border should be well 

 drained, as any stagnation or sourness at the roots is fatal to success. 

 During the growing season a plentiful supply of water should be given, 

 and an occasional dose of weak liquid manure will add greatly to their 

 luxuriance. 



As these plants flower on the shoots of the preceding year, they 

 should not be pruned till after they have done flowering, and then 

 the weakest shoots only should be cut in, the others merely shortened ; 

 and if the operation is performed at intervals, that is, only shortening 

 a few shoots at a time, the flowering season will be very much pro- 

 tracted ; while in cases where a number of plants are grown, an almost 

 constant supply of flowers can be had by pruning at different seasons, 

 and allowing the plants to have their periods of rest and growth in 

 succession. Not the least important feature of these fine shrubs is 

 their fruit, which occasionally ripens under conservatory treatment, 

 and is very ornamental, hanging for a long time after it is in perfec- 

 tion. Like all other plants of their tribe they are easily propagated 

 from cuttings, which if put in sand or light soil in spring or summer 

 will root in a close place with a little heat as readily as a Fuchsia or 

 Geranium. Omega. 



COWAN'S LIME KILN HEATING. 



On Saturday, this system of heating was commenced and tested 

 at Niddrie House, near Edinburgh, in the presence of a number of 

 the leading gardeners of Scotland, and the working of the system 

 was considered a great success. 2000 lbs. of pipes were heated 

 with great steadiness, and satisfaction to the large number of in- 

 spectors. Having already illustrated and described the system, we 

 will not here enter into details. 



