OUR GREENHOUSES, AND WHAT WE GROW IN THEM. 59 



All of us can call to mind some flowers which, once popular, are now 

 hardly to be found in any collection ; and yet we are at a loss to give a 

 reason. Let us look at a few cases. 



We all remember a pretty little double-flowering briar, which goes by 

 the name of " bridal rose ; " it is an exquisite plant, — foliage very delicate, 

 and of a peculiar living green covering every branch ; flowers snowy white, 

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

 vorable for symmetrical culture, and yet we may search in vain in our 

 g[reenhouses for this plant combining so many desirable qualities ; it is only 

 to be found grown in old pitchers, &c., in the windows of the poorer classes, 

 or in some private conservatory where its beauties are appreciated. An- 

 other instance: can a plant more ornamental at every season than the 

 Achsenia malvaviscus be found ? All the year it is studded with its scarlet 

 blossoms, and ornamental white berries; these, contrasted with the green 

 leaves, produce a charming effect ; and yet a few years since it was impos- 

 sible to procure a plant. Latterly it has appeared in some gardeners' cata- 

 logues, but whether from any demand or an appreciation of its merits is 

 difficult 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 was worth a greenhouse full of the trash generally cul- 

 tivated ; and all this had been done, by careful attention, in a parlor, the 

 plant never having been carried to a greenhouse ; if this can be done in 

 house-culture, Avhit ought we to expect from those who have every facility 

 for growing plants to advantage. 



Instances of this kind might be multiplied, but these must suffice. 

 What has caused this neglect we are at a loss to say. And another ques- 

 tion arises. Can a remedy be found ? We think it can. Let our cultivators, 

 our gardeners, our amateurs, estimate a plant by its real beauty, value it for 

 its intrinsic merit, and not by the factitious standards of novelty or dollars 

 and cents. Suppose you have a greenhouse full of rare plants, but all 

 poor, ill-grown specimens, costly, but not beautiful ; your neighbor has a 

 dozen fine specimen plants, in which nature, assisted by all the appliances 

 of art and care, has developed a perfection of form, a vigor of growth and 

 foliage, a profusion of flower ; let these all be common, well-known plants, — 

 fuchsias, azaleas, even verbenas, or other soft-wooded plants : which has 

 approached nearer the true end of floriculture, regarding it either as a 

 pleasure or as a science ? Surely he who develops to the best advantage 

 the powers of Nature. But we have taken an extreme case ; there may be 

 as great beauty, and often is, in the new plants as in the old. Some of the 

 introductions of the last few years possess beauties which a short time 

 since we never dreamed. Another question: Are we any nearer improve- 

 ment ? These plants are the fashion of to-day, and we fully appreciate their 

 beauty ; but to-morrow some new taste will develop, and before our new 

 plants, in the ordinary course of nature, have time to grow into good sized 



