CHAP. xiTi VILLA GARDENING 221 



aud many others, Cyanophyllum magnificum, Cycas revoluta, Cy- 

 perus alternifolius variegatus, DracKiia termiualis, D. t. alba, D. 

 stricta, D. alba-marginata, Begonia rex, etc. 



Forcing Flowers. — A house where flowers are brought forward 

 for the conservatory is one of the essentials of a well-appointed 

 place, even though all things may be on a very moderate scale. 

 As the forcing house will be chiefly in requisition in winter, it 

 should be light, and at the same time capable of being economically 

 heated. The best class of house for bringing on early flowers, or 

 for general forcing, is a low structure partly sunk in the ground, 

 ■ftdth a hipped roof, i.e. a long light facing the south, and a short 

 one on the north side. Such a house will give a maximum of warmth 

 and light at a minimum of cost. The interior arrangement will 

 depend upon its width. If narrow, the forcing bed should be in 

 front, with a path along the back, and shelves against the back 

 wall and wherever room can be foimd, as the most should be 

 made of the space. If the house was 1 6 feet wide, the forcing 

 pit might occupy the centre, with a path all roimd, and shelves 

 back and front. Such a house would require six rows of 4-inch 

 pipe to heat it economically. The forcing pit might be filled with 

 leaves, tan, or Cocoa-fibre ; or a stage, if desired, may take the 

 place of the pit. The pit might be chambered and have two rows 

 of pipes for bottom-heat. This would be cleaner than leaves or 

 tan, and only fibre enough to plunge the pots in, or to stand them 

 on if unplunged, will be required. All such houses shoidd contain 

 a tank inside, in which a supply of water should be kept. 



Preparing Plants for Forcing, — In forcing plants the 

 preparatory work is the most important, and will consist in so 

 treating the plant as to enable it to build up a strong healthy 

 growth early in the season, and afterwards be exposed to the most 

 favourable conditions for maturing the growth and ensuring a period 

 of rest before the api^lication of heat. If we apply the excitement 

 of artificial warmth to a plant whilst the activity of the summer 

 still lingers about it, we may obtain growth, but there will probably 

 be a paucity of flowers, simply because the flowers were not there, 

 the work of fixing not being completed ; hence the necessity and 

 value of prei^aration. In the majority of things forced for their 

 flowers, the preparation can be carried on in the open air ; and many 

 jilants, especially those with bulbous roots, are prepared in Holland. 

 But with reference to those things forced which can be prepared 

 at home, take the Si)ir3ea japonica, one of the most popular forcing 

 plants in existence. Our home-grown plants, if well cultivated, 

 are equal to most of the foreign importations. Divide the roots 

 and plant them out in a rich border for two years, and strong clumps 



