STOVE PLANTS. 293 



green-house plants, differing only in the increased degree 

 of heat. Many dry-stove plants are succulent, such as 

 those belonging to the genera Cactus, Aloe, and Mesembry- 

 anthemum. These require rather an arid soil, composed 

 of a little light loam mixed with lime-rubbish or shivers. 

 One of the most successful growers of the cactus tribe was 

 the late Mr. Walter Henderson at Woodhall. The com- 

 post which he employed consisted of 1 part rotted dung, 1 

 rotted leaves, 1 heath mould, 1 1-2 loam, and 1 coarse 

 sand, all well mixed together ; and the pot was nearly one- 

 third filled with shreds, so as to form an effectual drain. 

 Some of the species, such as Cactus speciosus and Cereus 

 flagelliformis, are improved, and made to flower more freely, 

 by being kept growing vigorously in an airy green-house 

 during the summer months. The bark-stove plants thrive 

 best in a confined moist atmosphere, possessing something 

 of the tepid vapor peculiar to the equatorial climes. In 

 order to furnish bottom-heat, a bark pit is prepared, 

 into which the pots or tubs are sunk ; and the air is heated 

 by flues, by steam, or, what is better, by a circulation of 

 hot water. Along the front glass, and on the back wall, 

 are shelves, on which pots may be arranged, according as 

 the plants require light or shade. On the front shelves are 

 occasionally placed shallow troughs filled with sphagnum, 

 and fragments of peat-moss or decayed wood, for the recep- 

 tion of air plants and other epiphytes. Small cisterns, too, 

 are introduced to contain tender aquatics. Along the raf- 

 ters some of the more elegant species of Passiflora, such as 

 P. quadrangularis, may be trained ; and through the 

 branches of some of the woody plants, Cuscuta Chilensis, 

 Tropseolum tricolorum and Jarattii, and other tender 

 climbers, may be allowed to twine themselves. In the pit 

 may be plunged some of the Palms, those princes of plants, 



