NO. 4 CONSERVATORY 05 



Also several S. American Zephyranthes and Ismene ( Hymeno- 

 callis). There are also a few Crassula and Echeveria species. 



No. 4 CONSERVATORY 



The first conservatory of more modern type was built in 

 1835 * w i tn nioney left by Professor Williams for the purpose. 

 It was rebuilt on a somewhat larger scale, and has recently 

 been enlarged to a size of about 60 ft. by 25 ft. on the 

 square. It contains the larger-growing cool-house shrubs and 

 trees, the temperate ferns at the back, and green-house 

 flowering plants in the front. 



In the middle are several of the less hardy Coniferae. 



A common parlour plant, but also the most majestic of its 

 tribe, is the Norfolk Island Pine, Araucaria excelsa, which 

 rises to a height of more than 200 ft. in its native country, and 

 is remarkable for its graceful spreading pendulous branches. 

 It has been extensively used for making the masts and spars of 

 ships : unfortunately it soon outgrows the size of the house, 

 and fine trees have to be removed from time to time. 



Fitzroya patagonica is another large tree, the native of an 

 inclement region, but not sufficiently hardy to be planted 

 out with us. 



The hardier Palms are represented by the Date Palm, 

 Phoenix dactylifera^ which bears its fruit at a height of 60 ft. 

 from the ground in N. Africa ; and Chamaerops excelsa, a large 

 specimen of which was presented by Miss Acland in J9Oi.t 



The remarkable tribe of Australian plants, the Casuarinae, 

 resembling in some respects the Coniferae, but with long and 

 slender branches, are represented by Casuarina equisetifolia. 



Among the more highly organised plants are the Grevilleas 

 (robusta, alpina^ juniperina var. sulphurea)^ elegant shrubs 



* We believe this to have been the house, then a stove, into which 

 Kewley's hot-water apparatus was fitted in 1837. 



t Miss Acland also presented fine Cordyline australis, Myrtus corn- 

 munis, and Phormium tenax in the same year. 



