308 FLOWER GARDEN. 



stoves, but wliich, owing to the high temperature they 

 require, T?an he only occasionally visited with pleasure. 

 This may account for the fact that ornamental plant- 

 stoves are seldom found but in first-rate gardens, even 

 where the price of fuel is inconsiderable. It is unneces- 

 sary to be minute respecting the culture of dry-stove 

 plants, it being precisely that of 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 Mesembryanthemum. 

 These require rather an arid soil, composed of a little 

 light loum 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 compost 

 which he employed consisted of 1 part rotted'dang, 1 

 rotted leaves, 1 heath mould, 1 J 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 Ce- 

 reus flagelliformis, are improved, and made to flower 

 more freely, by being kept growing vigorously in an 

 airy green-house during the surtimer months. The hark- 

 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 reception of air 



