Chap. XY.] 



WINTER GARDENS. 



23' 



Such are the prominent distinctive features of this mode of 

 grouping the principal furniture in this palace of flowers. As we 

 have already observed, these combinatiojis are capable of endless 

 variations, and numerous small species may be inserted in empty- 

 spaces between the larger plants ; while baskets of Ferns, Brome- 

 liaceae. Orchids, etc., may be suspended from the rafters on slender 

 wire. These may either be planted in the baskets, or the j)ots 

 placed in them, the interspaces being filled with growing moss. 

 The rockery will be adorned with all sorts of plants that will 

 flourish in the interstices between the stones, including a complete 

 collection of Selaginellas creeping amongst innumerable Ferns. 



Lastly, dead trunks of trees, fixed in the ground by means of 

 iron stakes to prevent them from falling as decomposition goes 

 on, should be placed at the spots Nos. 8, 14, 18, 29, 52, 57, G9, 

 and covered with tropical creepers and Epiphytes, and a whole 

 collection of Bromeliacese, especially Tillandsia usneoides and 

 Orchids. A short time will suffice for these to assume all the 

 picturesque appearance they present in the tropics. Here ends 

 our rough sketch of a warm winter-garden as it might and should 

 be made. 



