PLANT HOUSES. 



373 PLANTING, GOLDEN RULE IN. 



the winter, or for striking cuttings in the 

 summer. For the latter purpose, indeed, 

 they are well suited, because the semi- 

 transparency of the paper affords shade to 

 a considerable extent as well as protection, 

 us it admits an imperfect light only, and 

 not full light, as glass. 



Plant Houses, How Classified. 



Without protection of some kind during 

 the winter months no collection of plants 

 can be kept together ; but when mere pro- 

 tection is all that is sought, it is easily 

 obtained. A trench 2 feet deep, dug in 

 the ground, if the soil is dry, and a drain 

 at hand to carry off surface water, will 

 suffice, if covered with frames, straw, 

 hurdles, or other efficient covering ; for it 

 is ascertained by numerous experiments that 

 the earth at 2 feet deep is warmer by two 

 or three degrees than the surrounding air 

 in winter. A vacant frame, a cold pit, a 

 greenhouse, or a conservatory, will also 

 either of them serve the purpose. On the 

 other hand, where plants of a warmer 

 climate or season are to be forced into 

 early bloom, or where exotics are culti- 

 vated, artificial heat must be applied, not 

 only to keep out the cold, but to simulate 

 their native climate and atmosphere. 



The different glazed structures devoted 

 to plant-culture under glass may be classi- 

 fied as the Hothouse, also known as the 

 Plant Stove or Forcing House, the Green- 

 house, and the Conservatory. 



The arrangements to effect the culture 

 of plants under glass are usually confined 

 to the greenhouse, generally a lean-to 

 structure placed against the wall of some 

 other building, heated by flues or hot- 

 water apparatus, to pits of various con- 

 structions, or to simple frames adapted for 

 heating by hot dung ; while places of 

 greater pretensions add to this a conserva- 

 tory, which is a structure of the same 

 character as the greenhouse, but larger 



and more ornamental, being, in fact, the 

 showroom of the establishment, to which 

 the finest plants are removed when coming 

 into bloom. A complete range of houses, 

 however, would include, in addition to a 

 conservatory, a place of exhibition foi 

 flowering plants when at their best. 



1. The Hothouse, devoted to the culti- 

 vation of orchids, for which it is admirably 

 adapted, or to the production of roses, 

 melons, cucumbers, vines in pots, or, in 

 fact, anything to which it is applied. 



2. The Warm Pits, adjoining the hot- 

 house, heated by pipes, but to a less degree 

 than the greenhouse, in which may be 

 placed flowers such as roses, achimenes, 

 Poinsettia pulcherrima, cinerarias, heatbi, 

 epacris, primulas, azaleas, acacias, camel- 

 lias, arums, chrysanthemums, mignonette, 

 cyclamens, and other plants required 

 during the cold season for the windows, 

 the conservatory, and for cut flowers, or 

 which may be devoted to any other of the 

 multifarious uses to which a pit can be 

 applied in winter. 



3. The Greenhouse, in which a lower 

 temperature is maintained than in the hot- 

 house or plant stove, but still one that is 

 sufficient for all purposes of plant culture 

 and the protection and propagation of less 

 hardy plants. 



4. The Cold Pits, usually adjoining and 

 outside the greenhouse, not heated by 

 pipes, but very useful for growing mignon- 

 ette, violets, stocks, and other things 

 which only require protection. 



5. The Conservatory, whose use and 

 purpose has been already set forth above. 



Planting, Golden Rule in. 



In planting, except in the smallest places, 

 let it be accepted as the rule the golden 

 rule, as it may well be termed that all hardy 

 trees shall be planted in groups or masses 

 by themselves. The different groups can 

 be so arranged, in reference to each other , 



