I DIELYTRA SPECTABILIS AS A GREENIICUSE PI^VNT. 



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more imi^erative in proportion as the desire exists to place statuary in single speci- 

 mens alone. 



The foreground of a largo vinory afl'ords a most appropriate situation for the forma- 

 tion of a flower-garden in the Italian style, in which statuary is necessarily the 

 predominant feature; but it only admits of adoption in two situations — the one 

 immediately adjoining the house, and the other in connection with a conservatory of 

 sufficient extent to support the general design. The low terrace wall is an indispens- 

 able adjunct to the introduction of this style. It serves the double purpose of isolating 

 from the adjoining plantation the geometrical character of the flower-beds which the 

 adjacent architecture renders it necessary to employ ; and it forms, as it were, a gen- 

 eral base for the assemblage of sculpture distributed through it ; for when the statuary 

 is placed, and the low terrace wall with its wide coping of stone is erected, to the eye 

 of a spectator viewing the whole from a short distance, the top of the terrace wall will 

 appear to form a common base for the whole of the statuary. 



In the form of the flower-beds, in this style of garden, angular and straight lines 

 alone should be made use of, as being most in keeping with the architectural charac- 

 ter of the whole. Yascs or urns should be placed at the several corners of the terrace 

 wall. Plants may be placed in the vases in the summer, but they should be confined 

 to those species Avhich are of a formal, stifi" outline, as being most consistent with 

 architectural decoration — such as the Ar/ave AmcricavM, the Yucca^ the Cacti family, 

 Hydrangea^ Orange trees, and some others. 



DIELYTRA SPECTABILIS AS A GREENHOUSE PLANT. 



BY EDGAE SANDERS, GARDENER TO J. F. EATUBONE, ALBANY. 



This Chinese production is worthy a place in every greenhouse, its singular and pecu 

 liar shaped flower being quite distinct from anything out at the same time — a point 

 of considerable importance in a selection of plants. Its habit, too, is drooping and 

 graceful, its delicate rose-colored and purple-tipped blossoms hanging like ear-drops 

 from several axillary racemes. It is probably nearly or quite hardy enough to stand 

 our winters, of which I am unable to speak from experience ; but, with a slight pro- 

 tection of its roots it will undoubtedly stand, and form a magnificent object in summer. 

 Its culture in the greenhouse is simple, requiring no important room a great portion 

 of the time; and, by having a succession of plants, may be had in flower from the 

 first of February till those in the open air come in. It is very impatient of much heat, 

 and, if fine specimens are wanted, should at no time receive a temperature over 50° 

 artificial heat ; solar beat it does not mind. 



We procured a huge root from the open ground of a nursery, on the 4th of Novem- 

 ber, and gave it the following treatment. It was potted at once in a 13-inch pot 

 The root had to be divided into three parts to get it in, using loam and rotten du 

 parts of the former, one of the latter — with a little sand, to fill up the remaind 



