368 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Conservatory continued. 



internally, should also be in some way combined. Those 

 of modern construction are invariably better in this 

 respect than many of an earlier date. Only sufficient 

 space is here available to give a few general remarks, 

 that may be modified to suit individual requirements. 

 Tho selection of position has at times no alternative, 

 but if there is an opportunity, an open one with a south 

 or south-west aspect should be chosen, so as to obtain all 

 possible sunshine in winter. Shelter afforded by trees 

 from north and east winds is also a great advantage at 

 that season, but they should be sufficiently far away as 

 not to overhang the house. Provision for admitting 

 abundance of light and air, both at top and bottom, is of 

 great importance. The ventilators at the apex only are 

 best for winter use, but all may be utilised in summer, as 

 cool-house flowering plants are soon injured in a close 

 atmosphere or a high temperature. A thin shading is 

 necessary in bright weather, but is best if placed on 

 rollers, to admit of removal at other times. The heating 

 apparatus should be capable of maintaining a tempera- 

 ture of 50deg. in winter, although it is not always 

 advisable to keep so high as this. The pipes are best 

 concealed as much as possible under the side stages, 

 or a part may be under the floor, covered with per- 

 forated iron gratings, through which the heat will pass 

 readily. In the formation of the ground plan, sufficient 

 width should always be allowed for the paths. These may 

 be made of gravel, and covered with white spar or shell, or 

 a lasting floor may be formed of ornamental tiles that are 

 specially made for the purpose. A kerbing of terra-cotta or 

 stone should separate the paths from the beds of soil. 

 Sufficient space cannot be obtained for placing many 

 plants out of pots in small glass houses that adjoin or 

 form part of a mansion. In large structures, of pro- 

 portionate hight, a much greater diversity of plants, both 

 in size and habit, may be introduced permanently. 

 Beds for these must have ample drainage and a depth 

 of nearly 3ft. of good soil, formed principally of loam 

 and peat, with plenty of charcoal intermixed, to keep it 

 open and allow water to pass freely. A cool fernery 

 for the smaller growing varieties, placed in connection 

 with, or forming part of, a Conservatory, is always a 

 great source of attraction, especially if some rockwork 

 is constructed on which to plant the ferns. This part 

 should be on the northern side, or in the coolest position 

 obtainable. Many such places are among the best for 

 cultivating cool orchids, as the requisite moisture given 

 the ferns is just what is required by the former when 

 placed on inverted pots or suspended from the roof. 

 Hanging baskets, if well filled and attended to, by 

 watering frequently in summer, are always good additions 

 to Conservatory decoration. Where there is sufficient 

 space, large cool or temperate tree ferns, with others of 

 a dwarfer type, also cycads and palms, may be introduced, 

 with Araucarias, Aralias, Camellias, Dracaenas of the green- 

 leaved type, greenhouse Rhododendrons, and many other 

 plants of a similar habit, to form permanent features. 

 Care must be taken, and forethought exercised, regarding 

 their arrangement and the position to be occupied by each 

 when fully developed. Climbers and pillar plants must 

 not be omitted in any Conservatory, as many of these 

 show to much greater 'advantage when grown in this 

 way, although they may be amenable to other systems of 

 culture. A few indispensable ones may be given : Begonia 

 fuchsioidee, Bougainvillea glabra, Cestrums, Fuchsias, 

 Lapagerias, cool-house species of Passiflora, Plumbago 

 capensis, climbing Tea or Noisette Roses, Tacsonia exo- 

 niensis and T. Van Volxemii, &c. Temporary plants, 

 suitable for the embellishment of the stages and Con- 

 servatory generally, are endless in variety, and will be 

 found recommended for the purpose under their respective 

 headings. A band of Selaginella Eraussiana, about 9in. 

 wide, planted on the nargin of the beds, and, if prac- 

 ticable, on the side shelves also, tends greatly to increase 



Conservatory continued. 



the general effect produced by the plants. All Conserva- 

 tories, and everything connected therewith, should at all 

 times be kept as clean and tidy as possible. 



CONSTRICTED. Tightened or contracted in some 

 particular place. 



CONTIGUOUS. So close as to touch one another. 



CONVALLARIA (from convallis, a valley, and rica, 

 a mantle ; in reference to the dense covering formed by 

 the leaves, and to its natural habitat). Lily of the Valley. 

 OBD. Liliacece. A monotypic genus, consisting of the 

 universally admired Lily of the Valley. It is a widely-dis- 

 tributed, hardy, herbaceous perennial, being found through- 

 out Europe (Britain), North Asia, and also in the United 

 States. For the various methods of culture, and enume- 

 ration of varieties, see Lily of the Valley. 



Fio. 507. CONVALLARIA MAJAI.IS, showing Habit and 

 detached Raceme. 



C. majalis (May), jl. pure white, bell-shaped ; raceme gracefully 

 arching. Spring. I. twin, radical, on long stalks, elliptic oblong, 

 marked with a delicate tracery of nerves and veins, h. 6in. to 1ft. 

 See Fig. 507. 



CONVOLUTE. Rolled together, or over each other. 

 A form of vernation. 



CONVOLVULACE.2E. An extensive order of herbs 

 or shrubs, usually twining, and with a milky juice. 

 Flowers regular, solitary or crowded on the peduncles ; 

 corolla plaited. Leaves alternate, exstipulate. This order 

 is said to contain nearly 700 species; it includes such 

 well-known genera as Batatas, Calystegia, Convolvulus, 

 Ipomasa, and Pharbitis. 



CONVOLVULUS (from convolve, to entwine ; referring 

 to the twining habit of most of the species). Bindweed. 

 OBD. Convolvulacece. A genus comprising about 150 species 

 of annual or perennial, prostrate, twining or erect herbs or 

 sub-shrubs, distributed throughout all temperate and sub- 

 tropical parts of the world; the Mediterranean region, 

 however, is the head-quarters of the genus. Corolla funnel- 

 shaped or campanulate. Leaves alternate, entire, dentate, 

 or lobed, lanceolate, often cordate or sagittate. They 

 are, for the most part, very handsome plants, when in full 

 blossom. All are of very simple culture. The tender species 

 do best in a compost of peat, leaf soil, and loam, and are 

 usually propagated by cuttings sometimes by seeds in 

 spring. The hardy annuals should be sown in spring, in 

 the open border. The hardy perennials may be increased 

 by young cuttings ; by division of the roots ; or by seeds, 

 sown in spring. 



C. althseoides (Altha-like). fl., corolla pale red or lilac, large, 

 spreading, entire ; peduncles usually one-flowered ; sepals ovate, 

 acute. June. I. shining, silvery ; lower ones cordate, deeply 

 crenated ; superior ones pedatifld ; middle one long, pinnatifld. 

 South Europe, 1597. Hardy deciduous perennial. (S. F. G. 194.) 



C. arvensis (field). Small Bindweed, fl. white or pink, lin. in 

 diameter; peduncles axillary, usually two-flowered, with two 

 small bracts at their fork, and a third on one of the pedicels, 

 at some distance from the flower ; sepals small, broad. June to 

 September. I. lin. to 3in. long, very variable, apiculate ; lobes 

 acute. Stems numerous, trailing or twining, slender. Europe, and 

 Central and Russian Asia, except the extreme north ; common, 

 and often a troublesome weed, in England and Ireland, and local 

 in Scotland. A charming little plant for hanging baskets. See 

 Fig. 508. 



