Notes and Gleanings. 297 



roofs, with the cap completing the work fitted to top of wall, or under its coping. 

 To form span-roofs, the large sashes are coupled together by strong hinges at 

 top, which will allow them to be at any angle, to which the gutters can be ar- 

 ranged, and the ends made suitable to complete the structure. The cap is fixed 

 upon the span-roof in the form of an inverted V." 



The sashes, which are made of certain fixed dimensions, with the ends, and 

 the gutters, with their supports, which latter may be either posts or piers, form 

 the whole material for a Paxton house. It is obvious, therefore, that it can be 

 set up and taken down and removed with very little trouble ; and this is, in fact, 

 its chief advantage : though, in addition, as there is no high or elaborate finish, 

 though the workmanship is sound and good, the cost is reduced to a minimum. 



Habrothamnus elegans. — When well grown, this grand old Mexican 

 plant stands second to none as a decorative plant for the conservatory. It is of 

 vigorous growth, and a profuse bloomer, even in midwinter ; which is no mean 

 quality for a plant to possess. It is particularly well adapted for growing as a 

 single specimen, or for covering a wall or pillar in a lofty structure, as well as 

 in one of moderate proportions. When grown on a pillar, it is, perhaps, seen to 

 the greatest advantage. There is one in the conservatory at this place that I 

 planted from a small pot two years since : it is now fifteen feet high and well 

 proportioned, and was covered with bloom from top to bottom from the middle 

 of October onwards. It is growing on a pillar between an Acacia graiidls of the 

 same height on one side, SLnd^passiJlora on the other ; and its appearance all the 

 winter has been strikingly beautiful. It is planted in a well-drained soil, com- 

 posed of one-half rather heavy but rich turfy loam, and the remainder leaf-mould 

 and road-drift in equal proportions. It blooms on the last year's growth, and 

 should not be pruned until it has done blooming and the wood is thoroughly 

 ripened : even then, it must be done carefully by spurring the weakest shoots, 

 and shortening others in proportion to their strength ; while some may be laid in 

 their full length to increase the size of the plant if required. This mode of 

 treatment will insure a good winter bloom ; but, by a judicious pruning and thin- 

 ning of the branches at different times in the year, the plant can be made almost 

 a perpetual flowerer. It should have abundance of water when growing, and 

 manure-water once a week. 



I have found it useful when grown in pots ; under which conditions it can be 

 made to flower well twice a year by the assistance of bottom-heat, which it enjoys 

 very much, and by which it is easily excited into growth. Treated in this way, 

 the plant becomes almost deciduous. It is easily propagated from half-ripened 

 shoots inserted in a sandy soil, and placed in bottom-heat ; and, after the plants 

 are established, they should be treated as greenhouse evergreen shrubs. A 

 healthy plant will often set a quantity of fruit at the extremities of the shoots : 

 these are of a rich, rosy purple, like the flowers, and remain on the plant a long 

 time, rendering it doubly interesting. — J. R., in Florist. 



VOL. IV. jg 



