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LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



pleasure afforded by a well-chosen collection of exotic plants, 

 which, amid the genial warmth of an artificial climate, con- 

 tinue to put forth their lovely blossoms, and exhale their 

 delicious perfumes, when all out of door nature is chill and 

 desolate. The many hours of pleasant and healthy exercise 

 and recreation afforded to the ladies of a family, where they 

 take an interest themselves in the growth and vigour of the 

 plants, are certainly no trifling considerations where the 

 country residence is the place of habitation throughout* the 

 whole year. Often during the inclemency of our winter and 

 spring months, there are days when either the excessive cold, 

 or the disagreeable state of the weather, prevents in a great 

 measure many persons, and especially females, from taking 

 exercise in the open air. To such, the conservatory would 

 be an almost endless source of enjoyment and amusement ; 

 and if they are true amateurs, of active exertion also. The 

 constant changes which daily growth and development bring 

 about in vegetable forms, the interest we feel in the opening 

 of a favourite cluster of buds, or the progress of the thrifty 

 and luxuriant shoots of a rare plant, are such as serve most 

 effectually to prevent an occupation of this nature from ever 

 becoming monotonous or ennuyante. 



The difference between the green-house and conserva- 

 tory is, that in the former, the plants are all kept in fots and 

 arranged on stages, both to meet the eye agreeably, and for 

 more convenient growth ; while in the conservatory, the 

 plants are grown in a bed or border of soil precisely as in the 

 open air. 



When either of these plant habitations is to be attached to 

 the house, the preference is greatly in favour of the conser- 

 vatory. The plants being allowed more room, have richer 

 and more luxuriant foliage, and grow and flower in a man- 



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