Book II. 



CULTURE OF BOTANIC HOT-HOUSES. 



825 



586 



Thalamiflo. sect. 1. | Thalam. sect. 2. | Thalamiflo. sect. 3. | CalyciflotaB. | Corolliflorae. 



| Monochl. & Fhanerog. 



6206. By either mode regard must be had to place the plants in gradation according to 

 their size, from the front to the back, or from the lowest to the highest part of the stage, 

 as well to give them every possible advantage as to light, as to present the greatest surface 

 to the eye of the spectator. It is not desirable, however, to dress them so regularly, as 

 that the general slope of verdure shall appear as if shorn or mown, for that, both deprives 

 the sides of the plants of a considerable portion of light and air, and the eye of variety 

 of form, and light and shade ; it will have a much better effect if somewhat irregular, 

 and if here and there a distinguished individual appear above the rest as a standard. 



6207. In arranging by method or botanicalhj, either the Linnaean or Jussieuean classifi- 

 cation may be adopted ; the latter is unquestionably preferable, as exhibiting a more per- 

 fect relationship ; and it may be considered as represented by the same lines as those de- 

 lineating the mode of grouping by colors. (Jig- 586.) Where the Linnaean method is 

 adopted, the classes may either be grouped in irregular roundish masses ; or, as the tallest 

 trees and lowest herbs are often placed in the same class, it will answer better to dispose 

 each class and its orders in irregular strips (Jig. 587. m. d„ t. tet. pentandria, &c), from 

 the lowest to the highest part of the stage, by which the dwarf plants of each class may 

 be placed in front, and the taller farthest back. 



587 



pen tan. 



hex. h. o. en. d. 



icos. poly. did. tet. mon. dia. polyad. syn.gy. mo. di. po.crypt. 



6208. The botanic arrangements, it has been already observed, are only adapted for extensive collec- 

 tions and capacious hot-houses; on a smaller scale the mingled method, or that by grouping, will be most 

 advantageously adopted. In the case of green-houses attached to living-rooms, and where there are reserve- 

 houses to keep up a supply, only such plants as are in bloom should be introduced, and there the method 

 by grouping the colors may be adopted with great effect. But whatever be the size of the house, or even 

 the extent of a bed, or shelf, or any part of them, never let the plants be placed there in the present in- 

 discriminate mode. In this, no regard is paid to any thing but height ; or if any farther object is taken 

 into consideration, it is to mix the kinds as much as possible, with a view, as is alleged, to produce 

 variety. But the effect of this mixture, whether on a large or small scale, instead of variety, is same- 

 ness or monotony, which lessens interest, and finally produces indifference in the spectator. It is true, 

 there is as great a degree of sameness in the mingled mode ; but then it is the sameness of a formal and 

 avowed regularity; whereas, the sameness resulting from the common mode of mixture, is the sameness 

 of affectation, — a sameness resulting from an abortive attempt at something not attained. The one mode 

 may be compared to the geometrical manner of laying out grounds, and the other to the mode by clumps 

 and belts; both are alike artificial, but the former is avowedly so, and therefore has attained its end, 

 while the latter affects to be an imitation of nature, and therefore disappoints. A safe rule for every 

 gardener to adopt, whether in setting pots of plants on a shelf or a stage, however small either may be, 

 and however limited the collection, is to keep each genus together, placing the tallest plants farthest from 

 the eye. Sometimes this will form a thin, straggling group from the front of the shelf or stage to the 

 back (fig. 588. pelargonium, geranium, and erodium), and at other times, a sub-orbieulate group in tire 

 front (oralis,) middle (o/ea,) or back parts (cassia). This is a very simple rule, easily recollected and ap- 

 plied, and every master and head gardener who approves of it, ought to insist on its being carried into 

 execution in every case, whether in the open air or in hot-houses, where pots of plants are to be set 

 down together ; unless, indeed, it should, in the case of diseased plants, interfere with culture. The ef- 

 fect of this mode may be very well estimated by inspecting the hot-houses, or open air collections cf pots 



