PROCEEDINGS OF THE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 697 



Besides the plants I have described, there arc'a vast number ol others 

 that may be flowered at this season, so as to add to the general beauty of 

 the conservatory, although those that I have named are among the more 

 prominent for the many good qualities they possess, unless, perhaps, I 

 make exception in favor of the Hyacinth. This flower, you are aware, is 

 produced from bulbs annually imported from Haarlem, in Holland, where 

 the soil appears to be more suitable to this and kindred roots than in any 

 other part of the world, for there they are grown by the million, thousand 

 of acres being devoted to their cultivation, and from thence they are 

 exported to all parts of the globe. The Hj'acinth too is more specially 

 adapted for room culture than almost any other plant. It appears to thrive 

 equallj' as well whether grown in pots with earth or in glasses of water, 

 although the latter is perhaps the most interesting and pleasing way, as. 

 we are enabled to observe the formation of the roots as well as the devel- 

 opment of the leaves and blossoms. In order to have a succession cf these 

 flowers during the whole of the winter and spring, they should be planted 

 or placed in glasses as the case may be, at different intervals from Septem- 

 ber till middle of December. For the first ten or twelve days after being 

 placed in the glasses, which should be filled with water so as to cover the 

 lower part of the bulb with about half an inch,, they should be set in a 

 dark closet, as they throw out their roots more freely than when fully 

 exposed to the light; but when taken from the closet they should be kept 

 in the window so as to i-eceive as much light and sun as possible, care 

 being taken that the glasses are well supplied with water, so that the 

 lower part of the bulb is constantly immersed in it. Narcissus, Tulips and 

 Crocuses can be grown in a similar way, although these latter thrive 

 better and make more appearance when cultivated in pots. 



There is also another class of plants, the flowers of which for the most 

 part do not [possess any very great beauty. I allude to variegated or orna- 

 mental fuliaged plants, these have now become very numerous, the leaves 

 of many being so beautifully marked that no conservatory can be said to 

 be complete without them. We have but few of them here this evening, 

 which I very much regret, as they would have added much to the display 

 before us, but the weather unfortunately , is too severe. For many of the 

 finer varieties do best in a warmer and more humid temperature than 

 ordinary greenhouse plants, therefore would have felt the change of atmo- 

 sphere more than these. I would here observe that as the beauty of this 

 class of plant consists in their foliage, it should always be kept from cold 

 draughts of air, also the leaves ought to be frequently washed, which is 

 not only more healthy for the plant but doubly repays' the trouble by their 

 enhanced beauty and brilliancy of color. 



In conclusion I would call your attention to a very pretty and elegant 

 manner of growing plants in a room by means of what are called Parlor 

 Greenhouses, or, niorc properly speaking, Wardian Cases, which require 

 very little care and attention. 



It has always been supposed that plants of all descriptions must have a 

 constant change of fresh air, btit recent discoveries by Dr. Ward, a phy- 

 sician of London, has proved that many kinds of plants can be grown for 

 months without any change of atmosphere. The origin of the discovery 



