Conifers 



( 235 ) 



Conservatory 



CONIFERS. 



Cong-bearers; that is, trees and shrubs whose 

 flowers :u- borne in the axils of bracts, more or 

 less woody as a rule, anil crowded together, forming 

 a compound fruit termed a cone, not necessarily 

 conical. Typical examples are Pines, Spruces, 

 Mlvcr Firs, Cedars, and Arbor Vitae. The cone- 

 scales of Juniper are few, and become more or less 

 fleshy, forming a fruit termed a galbulus. Those 

 of Cupressus are dry, but otherwise similar. The 

 Yew has only one seed, surrounded by a few bracts 

 at the base, and is sometimes made the type of a 

 separate order ; but it and the two previously 

 mentioned genera are popularly classed with the 

 Conifers on account of their evident affinity. The 

 various members of the great class of Conifers are 

 dealt with under their own titles. 



CONIUM. (HEMLOCK.) 



A poisonous, hardy biennial plant (ord. Umbcl- 

 lifera;). The only known species is maculatum, '<', 

 June, white, a native plant easily recognised by its 

 spotted stems. It is propagated by seeds sown in 

 spring (syns. croaticum, divaricatum, maciilosum. 

 nodosum, etc.). Exceedingly poisonous. C. Arra- 

 caciais Arracacia(or Arracachaxanthorrhiza) ; and 

 cluerophylloides is Seseli chifirophylloides. 



CONNARUS. 



Evergreen stove shrubs (ord. Connaracese) or 

 small trees, with leathery, pinnate leaves and small 

 llowers. Propagation, by cuttings of firm wood in 

 sand placed in a propagating case. Soil, fibrous 

 loam, a little peat or leaf mould, and sand to make 

 the mixture porous (syn. Omphalobium). 



Principal Species : 



nfriramis, 8'. nitidus, 8', wh. 



asinrirus (.vr monorar- paniculatus, 8', wh. 



pus), pubescens, 6', wh. 



gibbosus, 8'. ^ semidecandrus, 6'. 



monocarpus, 8' (*yn. asia- 



ticus). 



CONOCARPUS. 



Evergreen shrubs of tree-like habit (urd. Com- 

 bretaceao), requiring stove heat. Propagation is 

 effected by cuttings of firm shoots inserted in sand 

 in a case, or under a bell-glass in heat. Soil, 

 fibrous loam and a third of peat with sand. 



Principal Species : 

 acutifolius (tee erectus procmnhens, 1', yel. 



iicutifnlius). racemosus (now Laguncu- 



erectus, 10', wh. laria racemosa). 



acutifrilius, 10', yel. 



CONOSPERMUM. 



Greenhouse shrubs (ord. Proteacea?), with ever- 

 green foliage and white or bine flowers. l'n>pa- 

 gated by cuttings in sand placed under a bell- 

 glass, with a little heat. Soil, one part loam, two 

 parts peat, with plenty of sand. 



Principal Species : 

 acerosum, li' to 1'. Huegelii, 2'. 



CONOSTEGIA. 



Small trees or shrubs (nr/1. Melastomacea:), re- 

 quiring stove heat. Leaves large and three to five 

 nerved. Flowers white, in terminal panicles. 

 Propagated by cuttings of ripened shoots in heat. 

 Soil, sandy loam and peat in equal proportions. 



Conioyramme (sec (fymnogramme). 



CoilOclitllM HI (*iv Hii/Hitnriuni). 

 Conuphalliie (see AiiiorplnipliaUiti). 



Winter temperature, 50 to 55 ; summer, 60 to 



Principal Species : 



balbisiana (see procera). 

 procera, 12' to 20', Je., 

 wh. 



semicrenata (see Miconia 

 semicrenata). 



CONOSTEPHIUM. 



Greenhouse shrubs (ord. Epacrideac) with small, 

 evergreen leaves and berried fruits. The Tas- 

 manian Cranberry and the Native Currant of 

 Australia are species belonging to this genus. The 

 berries are wholesome, though not much relished 

 by Europeans. Propagated by cuttings in? sand 

 under a bell-glass. Peat and fibrous loam in equal 

 parts, with sand. Winter temperature, 40 to 45- 

 summer, 00 to 70'. 



Principal Species : 



pendulum, U" to 18", Ap., red. 



CONOSTYLIS. 



Herbaceous perennials (ord. Hasmodoraccie), re- 

 quiring greenhouse treatment like Anigozanthoses, 

 to which they are allied, having similarly hairy 

 flowers. Propagation, by division. Soil, sandy, 

 fibrous loam. Temperature 40 to 45 in winter ; 

 55 to 70 in summer. 



Principal Species : 



aculeata, 1'. aurea. 1', yel. 



americana (now Lophiolu dealhata, 1'. 



aurea). setosa, Sep., yel. 



CONRADIA. 



Evergreen, dwarf stove shrubs, correctly referred 

 to Pentarhaphia (ord. Gesneraceie). Propagation is 

 effected by cuttings of mature side shoots in sand 

 under a bell-glass or in a case. Soil, loam and 

 peat in equal proportions, with plenty of sand. 



Principal Species : 

 calycosa (now Pentarha- (now Pentarhaphia 



pliia calycosa). lihauesis). 



floribunda, Oct., red sc. scabra, 2', Jy., sc. (now 

 Pentarhaphia scabra). 



CONSERVATORY. 



As the name implies, a conservatory is a struc- 

 ture used for the preservation of plants. Generally 

 speaking, flowering plants are grown in other glass 

 structures, such as hothouses or forcing pits, until 

 their blossoms begin to develop, wher they are 

 taken to the cooler atmosphere of the conservatory, 

 with a view to the extension of the flowering 

 period over as long a time as possible. On no 

 account should plants be retained in their forcing 

 quarters until their blossoms are fully expanded, 

 as their durability is considerably curtailed, and 

 much of the pleasure to be derived from watching 

 llowers expand is lost. 



Proximity to the dwelling should form a powerful 

 plea for thorough cleanliness and sweetness in the 

 conservatory. No green, dirty pots should ever be 

 admitted there; decaying leaves and flowers 

 should be promptly removed as soon as noticed, 

 and all plants unhesitatingly replaced by fresh 

 ones, as soon as they cease to be beautiful. Super- 

 fluous moisture should be removed from the floors 

 after watering is performed, as this makes for the 

 comfort of visitors, and prolongs the existence of 

 the blossoms, to which a close, moisture-ladei! 

 atmosphere is injurious. 



At least once a year the structure should receive 

 a thorough scrubbing down from top to bnttnm. 

 giving at the same time a thorough fumigation to 



