69G TRANSACTIONS OF THE AJIEFJCAN INSTITUTE 



To those who have conservatories there are few flowers more conepicn- 

 ous than the different species of the acacia, of which we have but one rep- 

 resentative here this evening, in the acacia linifolia. They are mostly larg'e 

 and rapid growers, so that they require a great space of room to them- 

 selves; but when in flower they are not only very showy but exceedingly 

 sweet. They are mostly very profuse flowerers, and even when not in bios 

 som are highly ornamental, many of them having, like the present, a very 

 graceful and drooping habit of growth. 



The next flower I will call your attention to is the Eiipatorium, of which 

 we have two varieties here, ,both as you perceive pure white; this 

 is a most useful class of flowers, not only for the decoration of the conser- 

 vatory, but also to the bouquet makers; there are some six or seven varieties 

 that flower during the winter months, some coming into blossom as early 

 as September, whilst, others do not flower till April, so that the period of 

 flowering extends over nearly nine months; and although they are all 

 white, yet they are distinct in form from each other, the flowers and leaves 

 have a slightly aromatic smell in several of the kinds, especially so in the 

 two varieties on the table. 



The next flower is the Begonia, which embraces a A'ery great variety, 

 some for the elegance and beauty of their flowers, and others for the sin- 

 gular markings of their foliage; the flowers, in general, have no great 

 merit, except a few, among which are the two species now before us. 

 Begonia incarnala, this pink-colored kind, and Begonia Saimdersiana, this 

 red coral-colored one. Most of the species continue in blossom the greater 

 part of the year. 



The orange free, I dare saj, is recognized by all by its fruit; it ought to 

 be in every collection, the foliage being of that peculiar lively green so 

 pleasing to the eye, and the blossom is universally admired for its fra- 

 grance, a single flower, when open, being sufiBcient to perfume a whole 

 conservatory, besides which, it generally has its golden fruit on the plant 

 at the same time as the flowers, "making it of double interest, especially to 

 the younger members of our families. 



This little white flower, the Ahjssum. Maritimum or Sweet Abjssum, is 

 only looked upon as a very common garden flower in the summer, but is 

 most useful in a conservatory during the winter. It can either be grown 

 as a dwarf pot plant like the present, or placed on a shelf, or even sus- 

 pended by means of a wire, and allowed to fall over the sides of the pot, 

 when it becomes a very pretty hanging plant; by carefully cutting off all 

 flowers as soon as the lower portions commence producing seed, it may be 

 made to flower almost indefinitely. The flowers are very sweet, smelling 

 very much like honey. 



Another of our common garden flowers in summer is the Reseda odorata 

 or Mignonette, so universally admired for its fragrance by all classes of 

 people. The plant bsfore us is a new variety and called the tree Migno- 

 nette, by never allowing its blossoms to perfect its seed; it will continue 

 flowering the whole of the season, and will live for years, becoming a large 

 bush or tree, according to whether it is allowed to grow at will or is trained 

 to a single stem. It is also somewhat sweeter than the ordinary garden 

 species. 



