Encyclopaedia of Gardening 85 



Conifers (Coniferae). Trees and shrubs which bear cones, or 

 woody bracts containing the flowers, such as Cedars, Firs, Larches, 

 and Pines. The different kinds are described under their own 

 names in this work. 



Conservatory. This structure is a display house, intended to 

 show at their best, and in a tasteful manner, the plants grown in 

 other houses. It is a somewhat expensive house, as it is more 

 ornate than a greenhouse, and it must be well built, or drip will 

 prove a nuisance. It should be near the dwelling, and may be 

 attached to it, so that it can be entered from the drawing-room or 

 other apartment. In large conservatories beds are made for 

 Acacias, Camellias, Palms, and other large plants, while such plants 

 as Passion Flowers, Tacsonias, and Lapagerias are planted to cover 

 the roof. If there are fairly wide paths, tubs containing Clivias, 

 Myrtles, and other favourite plants may be stood here and there. 

 See also Greenhouse. 



Convallaria (Lily of the Valley). See Bulbs. 



Convolvulus (convol-vulus, from convolvo, to entwine. Ord. 

 Convol vulaceae) . These beautiful twiners are related to Calystegias 

 and Ipomaeas. There are many species, and they differ a good 

 deal, some being hardy and some tender annuals, others greenhouse 

 or stove evergreens, and others again deciduous perennials. It is 

 unnecessary to enumerate a quarter of the species, as they are of 

 purely botanical interest. Althaeoides, a hardy perennial with 

 pink flowers in June, is good; it is illustrated in the Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 359. Cneorum is an attractive dwarf species with 

 pink flowers in May, and silvery leaves (see the Rot. Mag., t. 459) ; 

 it should be grown in the greenhouse, or in a sheltered place. 

 Major (Ipomaea purpurea) is the popular " climbing Convolvulus " 

 of the seedsmen and of cottage gardens. Mauritanicus is a lovely 

 little trailing shrub, well suited to basket culture in a greenhouse, 

 or to the garden in summer; it may be raised from seed in heat in 

 spring; the flowers are rich blue and come in summer. Tricolor 

 is the dwarf annual Convolvulus of the seedsmen. 



Coprosma (copros-ma, from kopros, faeces, and osme, small, in 

 allusion to the odour. Ord. Rubiaceae). Only one species, Baueri, 

 is grown to any extent, and that is more often than not represented 

 by its varieties picturata and variegata, which have handsome 

 leaves. They are greenhouse shrubs, thriving in loam with a third 

 of peat and some sand. Propagation is by cuttings in heat under 

 a bell-glass in spring. 



Coptis, Gold Thread (cop-tis, from kopto, to cut, alluding to the 

 leaf division. Ord. Ranunculaceae) . A small genus, the best- 

 known member of which is trifolia (Helleborus trifoliatus) , which 

 grows about 6 ins. high, and produces white flowers in April. It 

 likes a moist, peaty soil and a sheltered place. A herbaceous 

 perennial, it may be propagated by division after flowering. 



Corbularia. See Bulbs Daffodils. 

 Corchorus Japonicus. See Kerria Japonica. 



