154f Selection of Plants for forming 



plants cultivated in Britain ; but even fifty or a hundred of 

 such orders illustrated in a bed, a border, a small flower-gar- 

 den, or a small shrubbery, would surely form a scene of greater 

 interest than an assemblage collected without any definite 

 object. Forming such representative systems may be some- 

 what difficult and expensive at first, as compared with the 

 random mode of border and shrubbery planting, in which 

 whatever comes cixeapest is taken ; but as soon as there is a 

 demand in the nurseries for representative plants, their culti- 

 vation will be increased, till they become as cheap as any 

 others. 



In the following table, the first plant put down under each 

 order and tribe, is always as far as we have been able to de- 

 termine, the most easy of culture, the cheapest or readiest to 

 be met with, and that which occupies the least space ; prefer- 

 ring, amongst herbaceous plants, perennials to annuals. The 

 second plant put down is generally one of the handsomest of 

 the order or tribe. Under the column of herbaceous plants 

 a few additional names are given from the Epsom nursery, 

 with the prices ; and any prices added to either the first or 

 second name, or both, are also from the same nursery. These 

 have been selected by that botanist of unparalleled ardour, Mr. 

 Penny, and are always handsome, select, and appropriate. All 

 the herbaceous plants (if there be exceptions, we are not aware 

 of them,) may be purchased in the Epsom nursery ; and all the 

 trees and shrubs, and most of the house plants, we believe, may 

 be had of Messrs. Loddiges. To these gentlemen we are in- 

 debted for the selection of a few of the house plants. 



A few orders and tribes (13) can only be illustrated hy 

 plants that grow in v>'ater ; for Avliich purpose an earthen jar, 

 of 4 or 6 in. diameter, may be sunk in the ground. The 

 stronger-growing trees and shrubs, and even the sti'ong- 

 growing herbaceous plants, may in very small gardens be 

 kept dwarf, by being planted in old fruit-jars, or in garden- 

 pots without perforated bottoms. Hardy plants requiring 

 peat, or any other peculiar soil, should also be kept in pots 

 plunged to the brim. 



Foreign readers, and especially our friends in America and 

 Australia, who may be desirous of forming small natural ar- 

 rangements, will, we believe, be able to })rocure from Vilmorin 

 and Co. of Paris, and G. Charlwood of London, seeds to 

 illustrate at least 1 00 orders of herbaceous plants, 20 orders 

 of trees, and probably a {e.\^ orders of green-house and hot- 

 house plants. Even a few orders illustrated will prove far 

 more interesting to the scientific possessor, than the acquisi- 

 tion of plants merely because they are new, rare, or what is 



