238 THE PAI^KR AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XV, 



A Cool Winter-garden. 



"We have given consideration to the laying-ont of a ^Yinter- 

 garclen or conservatory for plants belonging to the warmer regions 

 of the world, and have gronped together such representatives of 

 tropical vegetation as can exist in the same atmosphere. Some 

 greenhouse kinds which acquire larger dimensions under the in- 

 fluence of a more intense heat than they would in a cooler atmos- 

 phere, such as certain Palms, Aralias, etc., have been omitted. 

 For instance, the Eice-paper plant, which grows in the open air 

 in the south of France, acquires gigantic dimensions in a hothouse. 

 A specimen of it, thus treated, measured thirteen feet two inches 

 high, and threw out superb leaves, exceeding six feet six inches in 

 length, including their stalks. 



In most cases, nevertheless, the plants named for a greenhouse 

 suffer under too high a temperature. Besides, the cool winter- 

 garden is still more valuable than that just described, for, while it 

 is as rich in ornamental specimens, it is more within the reach of 

 moderate means. Very little artificial heat is enough to keep the 

 temperature in winter at a minimum of three degrees above the 

 freezing-point, which is quite sufficient for the period of repose 

 required for many of the plants from Australia, China, Japan, 

 New Zealand, and mountainous tropical regions. One can hardly 

 believe with what numbers of plants, often supposed to belong to 

 tropical climates, a cool conservatory can be furnished. Numbers 

 of our beautiful Palms would flourish under cool treatment ; and 

 hundreds of Ferns require no better situation than the shelter of 

 glass. The Dracaenas, Agaves, Acacias, Dasylirions, Ficus, 

 Aralias, Banksias, tender Conifers like the Norfolk Island Pine, 

 Yuccas, Grevilleas, lihopalas, and the Cactuses, would certainly 

 submit to the same treatment, without mentioning the smaller 

 kinds, which only thrive under a low winter-temperature. 



The treatment carried out in reference to some tropical species 

 has often no relation to the altitude at which the plants naturally 

 grow. Should a plant arrive from Mexico, it would naturally be 

 placed in a warm conservatory. But as regards the Ferns of that 

 country, they arc found between 3,600 and 6,000 feet above the 

 sea-level, that is to say, at the limit where begin the Pines and 



