96 GLASS-HOUSES 



and trees of the Southern Hemisphere, which, with their 

 relatives, Banksia, Protea, and Dryandra, all belong to the 

 order PROTEACEAE. G. robusta is the Silky Oak of Australia, 

 prized for its beautiful wood. Protect argentea received its 

 appropriate name of Silver Tree from the silvery sheen of its 

 leaves, well-known at the Cape of Good Hope. Stenocarpus 

 cunninghami was grown in 1860. 



The light foliage of the Wattles or true Acacias from 

 Australia will attract attention. In many species the lamina 

 or broad part of the leaf drops off, whilst the leaf-stalk 

 expands so as to form a substitute for it. The white or 

 yellow flowers, like clustered miniature puffs, are readily dis- 

 tinguished from those of the False Acacias or Robinias of 

 N. America, which are papilionaceous. In the collection are 

 A. baileyana, cordata^ dealbata, riceana, and suaveolens. 



Here (or in No. 12) may be seen the Carob, Ceratonia 

 siliqua, the pods of which are much used for feeding animals 

 in S. Europe and Sicily, and are imported for mixing with 

 the concentrated cattle-foods of this country. The small seeds 

 were used by jewellers as carat-weights. 



The Camellia, nearly allied to the Tea-plant, was intro- 

 duced into Europe from China by Lord Petre in 1739, and 

 has long been cultivated in the Garden. Raphiolepis ovata 

 is a Japanese shrub with glossy dark green leaves. 



Such are the principal plants of large size in the conserva- 

 tory (or No. 12 Green-house), but its gay appearance at most 

 seasons is due to the smaller flowering herbs on the staging 

 near the glass. Here, in their season, may be seen 



Flowers of all heavens, and lovelier than their names (TENNYSON), 



such as Cinerarias, Primulas, Vallota Lilies, and Heliotropes, 

 believed by the Greeks to have been produced by Apollo 

 at the transformation of Clytia ; also large specimens of 

 Agapanthus, the finest of onions. 



Towards the end of October the stages are swept clear an.d 



