AXD CONSEEVATOllT. C3 



CHAPTEE T. 



GEEEI^HOrSE HEEBACEOUS PLAIs'TS. 



All tbe plants in this section increase quickly and flower 

 profusely if grown in a moist atmosphere in houses of low pitch, 

 in which the temperature is never allowed to go below 40° ; 

 but in lofty and airy structures, particularly if the air be dry, 

 they will never prosper ; but they may be taken into large 

 houses, when in flower, for decorative purposes, and if they 

 suff'er a little then, their deterioration will not be manifested 

 until they have served their purpose and may be destroyed oi 

 restored as may be desirable. 



The reader must not be dismayed by the word " destroyed," 

 for the essence of success in this department consists in raising 

 a fresh stock of plants every year, and, as a rule, it is not only 

 unwise, but positively injurious, to the garden to keep any 

 greenhouse herbaceous plants beyond one season. However, 

 we shall meet with several exceptions to the rule as we pro- 

 ceed ; but it is well the destructive policy should be brought 

 forward in good time, because it is a settled article of faith 

 with beginners in plant culture that a pretty plant should be 

 preserved at any cost, even if the labour alone, more wisely 

 bestowed, would ensure fifty plants as good or better than the 

 one petted by mistake. Herbaceous plants thrive in brick 

 pits that have sufiicient piping to keep out frost, and there are 

 two circumstances in their favour when so grown ; they are 

 always close to the glass, and the pots stand on a moist bed. 

 The section includes annuals and perennials : a few of them 

 are hardy garden plants, and all of them are characterised by 

 absence of permanent stem and capabilitv of increase by the 

 division of the "stool," the natural production of off-sets, or 

 the simple process of sowing seeds. 



Amaeyllis. — The florist's " amaryllis" is the Hippeasfrum of 



