THE GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 37 



rose-shaped, with a green centre, and studding the plant ; 

 habit most favorable for symmetrical culture ; and yet we 

 may search in vain in our green-houses for this plant, com- 

 bining so many desirable qualities : it is only to be found 

 grown in old pitchers, and in the windows of the poorer 

 classes, or in some private conservatory, where its beauties 

 are appreciated. Another instance : Can a plant more 

 ornamental at every season than the achsenia malvaviscus 

 be found ? All the year it is studded with its scarlet blos- 

 soms and ornamental white berries ; these, contrasted with 

 the green leaves, produce a charming effect ; and yet a few 

 years since it was impossible to procure a plant. Latterly 

 it has appeared in some gardeners' catalogues ; but whether 

 from any demand or an appreciation of its merits it is diffi- 

 cult to say. The writer never saw but one fine specimen of 

 this plant, and that was a picture of beauty, over four feet 

 in height, well bushed, covered with healthy foliage, and 

 the end of each branch crowned with coral flowers, while 

 the berries gemmed the whole plant, white, blush, and red. 

 Such a plant is worth a green-house full of the trash gen- 

 erally cultivated ; and all this had been done by careful 

 attention in a parlor, the plant never having been carried to 

 a green-house : if this can be done in house-culture, what 

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