Chap. XV.] WINTER GARDENS. 227 



a picturesque scene in some small spot with formal surroundings 

 has a ridiculous ending ; but in consequence of the luxuriant 

 growth of many plants that flourish in the temperate greenhouse, 

 it is possible efiectually to hide almost every trace of the 

 building in a few years. With little lawns made of Lycopodium 

 denticulatum, tiny winding streamlets bordered with New Zealand 

 Flax and graceful Grasses, Ferns, and the like ; groups of Tree- 

 ferns, Camellias, and Palms, and a plant of the great Musa 

 Ensete, some winter-gardens are made really worthy of the name, 

 and quite as charming as small wild gardens in those sub-tropical 

 climes most favourable to vegetation. Whether the natural 

 system of arrangement be adopted or not, every attempt should 

 be made to soften the lines of the building and to shroud the 

 spot with foliage. 



For the following article on the arrangement of a winter-garden 

 in the natural style, I am indebted to M. E. Andre of Paris, who 

 has had much experience in these matters. " In England, where 

 amateur gardening is so highly developed, and where more 

 attention is concentrated upon the beauty of individual plants 

 than upon general effect, next to nothing has been done towards a 

 picturesque style in conservatories. Even the largest establish- 

 ments leave much to be desired in this respect. Of course, in a 

 mercantile or a small private establishment where the plants are 

 either frequently removed or where they are awaiting sale, they 

 will be arranged for convenience, like the bottles in a chemist's 

 shop. But it is surprising that in planting the glass palaces of 

 the rich, such as we find at Sion House, or spacious Palm-houses, 

 like that of Kew, so little regard has been paid to general effect. 

 The cause is simply this, that cultivation has alone been 

 considered in England and in most European countries, and 

 that the knowledge of plants has hitherto been limited to 

 experimental culture. Gardeners have ignored the teachings 

 of plant-distribution. Information on this subject can usually 

 only be gained by studying the narratives of travellers, and 

 these, unfortunately, are often incomplete and uninstructive on 

 this point. 



To supply in some measure this defect, we shall attempt to 

 show how a winter-garden in the picturesque style should be 

 treated. Before doing so, however, we should mention that there 



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