245 



POR^REA. 



there is scarcely an architectural 

 object capable of being rendered 

 ornamental, and a shelter from the 

 sun, the wind, or the rain, which may 

 not find a place. To know all the 

 different scenes which may be intro- 

 duced in a pleasure-ground in modern 

 times, it is only necessary to visit 

 such a place as Alton Towers, in 

 Staffordshire, where, in addition to 

 I the objects mentioned, may be seen 

 pagodas, hermitages, an imitation 

 of Stonehenge, and of other Druidi- 

 cal monuments, shell work, gilt 

 domes, and huge blocks of mossy 

 rock, bridges, viaducts, and many 

 other curious objects. In small 

 places of an acre or two, the most 

 interesting objects which may be 

 introduced in a pleasure-ground are 

 collections of trees, shrubs, and her- 

 baceous plants, which may always 

 be ari'anged to combine as much 

 picturesque beauty and general effect 

 as if there were only the few kinds 

 of trees and shrubs jjlanted which 

 were formerly in use in such scenes. 

 Where a small place, even of a 

 quarter of an acre, is to be made 

 the most of, there should seldom be 

 more than one or two trees, shrubs, 

 or plants of exactly the same kind, 

 and the ornamental plants imme- 

 diately adjoining the house may be 

 combined with the verandah, por- 

 tico or porch, conservatory, green- 

 house or hothouses, terrace flights 

 of steps, balustrades, vases, statues, 

 fountains, walks, rockwork, and a 

 great variety of similar objects, ac- 

 cording to the taste of the designer, 

 the peculiarities of the situation, 

 and the expense which the proprietor 

 is disposed to incur. 



Plero'.ma. — Melastomdcece. — P. 

 elegans is a very handsome shrub, 

 with large dark-purple flowers. It 

 is a native of the Organ IMountains 

 of Brazil, whence it was introduced 

 in 1846. 



Plumba^go. — Phanbaginacece. — 

 Lead-wort. — Grreenhouse plants, re- 

 markable for their vigorous growth 

 and abundance of flowers. They 

 should be grown in light rich soil, 

 and they are propagated by cuttings . 



Podo'lepis. — Coiwpositw. — Very 

 pretty Australian plants, which 

 should be grown in a compost of 

 loam and peat. They are all nearly 

 hardy ; the perennials are increased 

 by dividing the root, and the an- 

 nuals (P. gracilis, &c.) by sowing 

 on a hotbed in February or March, 

 and transplanting into the open 

 border in March. 



PoDOPHT'LLUM. — Podophyllacece. 

 — The May Apple, or Duck's foot. 

 — An American herbaceous marsh 

 plant, which should be grown in a 

 light rich soil kept moist, and which 

 is increased by seeds or dividing its 

 creeping roots. The flower is white, 

 and the fruit, which is eatable, is 

 green and about the size of a plum. 



Poet's Cassia. —See Osy'ris. 



POINCIA^NA. — See C^SALPrNIA. 



PoiiS'se'ttia. — Euphorhiacece. — 

 A most splendid plant, not for its 

 flowers, which are small and white, 

 but for its large bright scarlet brac- 

 teas, which, at a little distance, 

 have a superb appearance. There 

 is a variety with white bracteas, 

 but it is very inferior to the species. 

 This plant requires a stove, in 

 which it should be grown in a com- 

 post of loam and peat. After it 

 has shed its leaves, it should be 

 allowed a season of rest, during 

 which it should be kept neai-ly dry. 

 It is increased by cuttings, which, 

 .when taken off, should be dried for 

 a few days, and then plunged into 

 the tan of a pine-pit or stove. 



Poi'vrea. — CombretacecB. — This 

 new genus, established by Professor 

 De Candolle, includes all those 

 species of the genus Combretum 

 which have ten stamens and five- 



