CHAP. Ill VILLA GAKDENING 155 



liosition at the exhibitions must learu to train phxnts neatly without 

 using too many sticks, as the hitter possess uo beauty in themselves, 

 and are only tolerated because of the evident necessity. Small 

 neat sticks, painted green, look the best, and can be made in bad 

 weather. Double laths — that is, deal laths of a double thickness 

 which will easily rend — are the most suitable. Any one at all 

 handy with a sharj) knife will quickly make a lai'ge number, 

 and a coat of green paint makes them appear less conspicuous as 

 well as more lasting. But as it must be a disadvantage to the 

 ])lant to have the ball j)ierced and perhaps the roots injured by 

 having sticks thrust in in all directions, as few as possible should 

 be used, and those not inserted more deeply into the ball than is 

 necessary to obtain the requisite hold of the soil. Most of the 

 jilants will require attention annually, but a good deal of this work 

 should be done in winter when other work is not pressing. 



CHAPTER III 



List of Plants for Temperate House. — Roof climbers should 

 be used sparingly for this house, as full light is so essential for 

 this class of plants. Still, if there is space and convenience, 

 there are neat -habited clinil)ing plants that will not shade in- 

 jiu-iously, and will furnish and improve any bare space on roof or wall. 

 The following short list are among the most useful : — Acacia Riceana, 

 Brachysema acuminata, Hibbertia dentata, Jasminum de Poiteau, 

 Kennedya lilacina, K. monophylla, Lapageria rosea, L. alba, Sollya 

 heterophylla, Swainsonia Osborui. I also add a selection of New 

 Holland and other tenqoerate house plants that will thrive under 

 similar conditions and do well together : — Abutilon Boule de Neige 

 and others, Acacia armata, A. diffusa, A. Drummondi, A. grandis, 

 A. longifolia magnifica, A. platyptera, A. verticillata. The Acacias 

 are a most interesting and beautiful class of Australian shrubs of 

 elegant habit of growth and easy culture. Platyptera flowers at 

 Christmas ; the remainder follow in succession through the spring. 

 Everybody with a greenhouse should grow some of these, as they 

 will ])ear the usual treatment given to a mixed collection very 

 well. Acrophyllum venustum, Adenandra fragrans, Aphelexis 

 macrantha purpurea, A. prolifera Barnesi, A. rupestris grandiflora, 

 a beautiful gemis with everlasting flowers, formerly much grown 

 as exhibition plants for the spring and summer shows ; Boronia 

 Drummondi, B. serrulata, B. megastigma (the last is sweet- 

 scented), Chironia glutinosa. Cassia corymbosa, Chorozema cordata 

 splendens, C. varimn nanum, Coleonema rubra, Coprosma Baueriana 



