62 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Oranges bear pruning well, and grow to a large size. 



Ericas. We read of fine specimens many feet in diameter and well 

 bushed. Have we ever seen at any of our exhibitions a specimen erica ? 



Epacris. The same remarks apply. 



Kennedias, are all well adapted for specimens; trained on balloon trel- 

 lises and in full bloom, what can be prettier ? 



The same may be said of Allamandas, Rhyncospermum, Corabretum, 

 Stephanotus, and a host of other climbers. 



Chorozema varium, also, makes a beautiful specimen trained in this 

 way. 



All the soft-wooded climbers are superb objects grown on large trellises, 

 if the foliage is in good health. 



Pelargoniums and Geraniums, we all know, make superb specimens ; 

 also Verbenas, Heliotrope, and other plants of the same nature. Hoveas, 

 and plants of kindred nature, are very poor subjects for specimens, but 

 much may be effected by care and patience. The Cape bulbs, such as 

 Ixias, Sparaxis, &-c,, are never treated with proper care ; they are forced 

 into bloom, and then, instead of allowing the leaves to ripen well, the plants 

 are thrust out of the way, dried off, and the only wonder is they ever perfect 

 any bulbs. As it is, the bulbs decrease in size year by year, and at last, 

 being too small to bloom, are cast aside as worthless. These remarks ap- 

 ply to all greenhouse bulbs, except, perhaps, the Cyclatnen. We have 

 never seen well grown pots of Cape bulbs, except in a few instances. 



Will not some amateur make the growth of bulbs a specialty, and show 

 us what can be done in this almost unexpected region of floriculture ? We 

 should say unexplored in this country; In England, much has been done, 

 and great has been the reward. 



Orchids make superb specimens, but the growth is slow, and the atten- 

 tion needed immense. The various classes of ferns, mosses, lycopodiums, 

 and other Cryptogamous plants, can be very prettily grown. 



The vast class of variegated-leaved plants are pictures of beauty if prop- 

 erly grown, and well repay any outlay of care or expense. 



Even with our common herbaceous plants, or with annuals, a very pretty 

 effect may be produced. 



Thus we have shown that the neglect is not caused by want of objects 

 upon which to practise. 



If we continue to show our greenhouses filled with plaHts which, by 

 their careless growth and sickly aspect, are a disgrace to us, the fault is 

 our own. 



Let us give our plants the benefit of our increased knowledge, — give 

 them air, light, and room to develop their beauties, and we shall soon see 

 that they will not be slow to avail themselves of the liberty. It will then 

 be our care to repress undue luxuriance, or to train into proper shape the 

 wandering branches. 



Above all, feed your plants well ; they cannot thrive in a poor soil, or 

 draw nourishment from the earth if you do not supply it. Again, adapt 

 the soil to the wants, to the nature of the plant ; give sand, peat, leaf- 



