REPORT or THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 345 



lawn, the shady nook, and the flower garden^ all seem to give them a 

 welcome, and they alwa^'s add grace and beauty to whatever place 

 the}' occup3'. The elegant specimens seen here verify this statement. 



We noticed several fine specimen plants of Opuntias ten feet 

 high, and also a variegated form. These large plants were, last 

 summer, in the centre of an ornamental bed. 



In one of the houses we were delighted at the sight of an old 

 friend, Bignonia venusta, a magnificent specimen of which had on 

 it scores of streamers of flowers four or five feet long. This 

 plant was grown in a border not more than three feet by two, and 

 the stem of the plant at the base was at least eight inches through. 

 In pruning, it is cut, very much like a grape vine, to two eyes, in 

 the month of May, and lasts fully six weeks in bloom. 



On the opposite side of the house was another superb green- 

 house climber, which follows the Bignonia in flowering, — the 

 Bougainvillea spectabilis. When growing, Mr. Harris says, you 

 cannot give it too much water, but the roots must be kept within 

 bounds. This also is pruned after flowering, the same as a grape 

 vine. These splendid greenhouse climbers should have a place 

 wherever one can be given them. 



In one of the storage pits were fifty elegant specimen plants of 

 Holly, also Portugal Laurels, Yews, Euonymus, Gryptomeria 

 Japonica^ etc. We were informed that no harm would come to 

 these plants if the mercury fell ten degrees below the freezing 

 point, but cold winds must be kept out. There are three Rhodo- 

 dendron pits, eighty feet long by sixteen wide, in which 700 or 

 800 plants are stored. 



In the rear of the Peach house a new house has been built. 

 This is a cool house, and here were Orange plants, Acacias, 

 Euonymus, Lapageria rosea, L. alba, and scores of other plants 

 adapted to cool house culture. 



The cool orchids are in a part of this house, being separated by 

 a glass partition. These houses are constructed unlike most 

 greenhouses, nothing being used that can rot. The walks and 

 benches are all made of cement, the benches being supported by 

 iron standards at the edges of the walks, with flat pieces attached 

 to them at regular intervals, and running to the wall ; this is all 

 the support that is needed. To make these benches, a broad 

 framework is made and placed where the under side of the bench 

 will be, and cement of the desired thickness is laid on this frame- 

 work, which remains three or four days that the cement may 



