HORTICUTURE. 



307 



Flower sian iris, and the early sweet-scented tulips, are well 



d. The jonquil bulbs, it may be observed, must 



s ^~i~*' i !t . t i the pots before they can be expected 



to flower prop 



r loe- ., take thU opportunity of noticing the 



'* mode of brin^in^ these bulbous plants into flower by 

 means of water alone. It was described by Miller in acom- 

 :rd in the ,17th vol. of the Philoso- 

 phical Transactions, tor 171. November is the usual 

 eeaaon for beginning this sort of chamber forcing. The 

 r-glasses are filled up to the bottom of the bulb 

 with fresh soft water ; and it is kept up to this point by 

 adding to it as often as neces*. . water should be 



entirely changed once in the week or ten days. The 

 ^i^-i- -himiil l>e iitii.-ited in a iiiiht room where a tire 

 is kept, and, if possible, near to windows exposed to the 

 forenoon sun. If they be placed in a hot-bouse for a 

 few weeks, they are greatly forwarded, and appear in 

 perfect flower in January. The numer lies of 



hyacinths raised by the incredible industry of the 

 i florisU, answer extremely well for this purpose ; 

 likewise the different sorts, white and yellow, of the po- 

 fius-narcissus. The jonquil, also, is pretty well 

 adapted ; but to many its fragrance is too powerful in 

 r<iom. The small tulip' called Due de Vanthol, 

 Claremont, and Pottebakker, may be treated in this 

 way ; and the Persian iris i* somatimea brought to 

 flower, but i< rather apt to fail. The common poe- 

 narcissus, and the common daffodil, mar be made 

 to bloom in the same way. 



CoswtTMfory. 



raaurmn SS6. The Conaenratory u distinguished by iu interior 

 IT. being laid out in beds and borders, in which exotic 



trees, shrub* and perennial plant* are cultivated as 

 in the natural toil. The aide* and roof are of glaat ; 

 and not unfrequently this last is so formed that it can 

 be lemoved during the summer month*. The parapet 

 wall should be arched, in order to allow the root* of 

 plants in the border next to it, to penetrate to the ex- 

 terior border in quest of food. In general the flue 

 riasift under the walk, and has cavities at each aide, to 

 let beatrd air escape through bole* in the earthen tiles 

 with which k i* covered. The side borders are occu- 

 pied with some of the smaller ornamental shrubs of 

 New Holland, and with some other* which, though oc 

 caainnalry placed in the open border, are apt to perish 

 during winter | Malt aa the scarlet Fuch.ia of Chili, 

 and the fragrant Vervain of theatme country ( 

 : AWfa) ; the Dutch double-flowered myrtle, 

 tea plant*. To these may be added 



and the 



tea plants. To these may be added aoaa* of the *howy 

 specie, of Polygak, Hermannia, and Gnidia. The 

 . the middle of the houae should be formed of 

 oil to the depth of at least two feet ; the 

 laid with some hard material. 



, to prevent 



_ particularly if the subsoil 

 For the general soil. Nicol recommends 

 ganeou* comport of S-4ths brown loam, 

 being the sward of an old pasture, and 1- 4th vegetable 



a p. rt'ritly < 



earth, preferring that resulting from decayed tree-leave*. 

 The earth should not be screened ; ind,'. d it is the bet- 

 ter for having small stones mixed with it. This middle 

 bed i* occupied by *ome lofty New Holland plant-, such 

 a* diierent specie* of Acacia, particularly A. decur- 

 remand longifoha ; the dwarfish fan-pahn, Chamsrrop. 

 humilis; Clethra arborea, one of the ornaments of 

 Madeira: Olive-trees, and frequently one or two of 

 the Citrus genus. The different varieties, red and 

 white, singl- and double, of the Japan row (Camel. 

 Ito Japontca) deserve a place; with Daphne odora ; 



the red-flowered Anise-seed tree, Illicium Florida- 

 nuiii ; the Malabar nut, (Justicia Adhatodd) ; the /^""V 

 C amphor-tree (Laurtu camphora) ; several of the ele- 

 gant genus Protea, and one or two of the no less plea- 

 sing arul curious genus Banksia. Where the house is 

 of an oval or oblong square shape, and is com|x>sed 

 of glass only on three sides, the back is covered with a 

 trellis, to which several of the arborescent Cranes-bills, 

 (such as Pelargonium inquinant, different varieties, P. 

 peUalum, cuculatum, and I'tleripri) are trained ; and 

 these, when in flower, have a very brilliant appearance. 

 In some conservatories, a small aquarium is formed, 

 where several of the foreign species of Nymphsea ami 

 Menyanthes may be brought to flower. 



537. Sometimes the characters of the greenhouse and 

 the conservatory are to a certain extent combined in 

 one house. In particular, some ornamental climbers 

 are planted in the borders, trained against the rafters 

 and pillars, and often led in festoons from place to 

 place. Several species of Passiflora, such as ccerulea, 

 aurantia, and incarnata, and of Glycine, become in this 

 way very elegant, and the large bell flowers of Cobbea 

 scandens make a fine appearance ; with different species 

 of Convolvulus, and the Maurandia semperflorens. The 

 Caper-bush, already noticed, 405. is at once showy 

 and in some measure useful. 



538. In a few fine gardens, where the cultivation of Heathery. 

 curious plants 'is much attended to, a separate keath- 



ktmtt is erected, and appropriated to the numerous 

 Erica- from the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. This tribe of plants, it is justly remarked by 

 Professor Martyn, has within these few years " risen 

 from neglect to splendour." Miller, in the edition of 

 hi* Dictionary published in 1766, mentions only five 

 sorts, four of which are indigenous to this country, and 

 the fifth a native of the south of Europe. The stores 

 of the Cape were then nearly unknown. In 1775, Mr 

 Francis Masson, travelling botanist to the king, sent 

 home- many new species from Southern Africa; and the 

 same botanist revisited that country in 1787, and was 

 equally successful in his researches. More lately M r N i- 

 ven of Edinburgh, by extending hi* travels, made a 

 rich harvest among the same tribe of plants. The Cape 

 erica- are now about two hundred in number, and many 

 of them both beautiful and fragrant. In construction, 

 the heath-house differs in no respect from a small green- 

 house with a low roof. The plant* thrive best in a 

 light, rather poor soil ; such a* a mixture of bog-earth, 

 light loam and sand. They arc propagated chiefly by 

 cutting* ; the cuttings preferred are very small, insert- 

 ed cloaely together in fine soil, sifted over with very 

 para ana fine sand, and covered with small crystal 

 glaaaes, so as to prevent evaporation ; the pots are 

 kept in a moderate heat, but shaded. Cuttings of E. 

 retorta, articularis, and several others, do not grow 

 without great difficulty : such specie* are therefore oft- 

 en layered. Several kinds ripen their seeds in this 

 country ; and by sowing these, great numbers of plant* 

 are frequently raised. 



Holhotuet. 



539. The hot-homes for exotic plants have already Hot-houses. 

 been mentioned under the title of Dry Stove and Bark 

 Stove, ( 199, 200). It was there observed, that in the 

 latter some of the more delicate kinds of grape vines 

 are often trained along the rafters, and that pots with 

 kidney-beans and strawberries are sometimes placed on 

 the side shelves. In first rate gardens, where the stove 

 is entirely appropriated to ornamental plants from tro- 

 pical climates, the house i* sometimes formed of glass 



