640 RemarJiS on TemCs Mode 



that I know, and is one of the strongest-scented, not even excepting the sa- 

 vins. It is quite hardy, and forms a rival for the singular J. suecica in habit. 

 Horticultural Society' s Garden, Nov. 14. 1840. 



Art. II. On Mr. Penris Mode of Warming and Ventilating. 

 By N. M. T. 



After visiting Mr. Penn's establishment with the view of ascertaining the 

 merits of his method of heating and ventilating plant-houses, the result is 

 that I think it fully deserving of all tiiat you have said in its favour. I con- 

 sider; it the greatest boon ever conferred upon the horticulturist. To Mr. 

 Penn the thanks of every gardener are justly due ; mine he has most sincerely ; 

 as I consider that he has done much to lessen the labour of our profession ; 

 to shorten the list of countless accidents that were ever ready, even at the 

 eleventh hour, to deprive us of the just reward for months of unremitted ex- 

 ertion and anxiety; and to render, with ordinary care, success, even in our 

 most difficult operations, almost a matter of certainty. Were it merely a 

 matter of theory, the advantage of a free circulation over stagnation, for 

 every purpose of the cultivator, must be obvious to every person possessing 

 common sense, however destitute he might be of horticultural knowledge ; 

 but happily this system has been so far tested by practice, that there is not 

 room for a single doubt of its effects. The plants treated according to this 

 system by Mr. Penn are such, that I am satisfied he need only show them 

 to his most decided opponents, to convince them of the utter hopelessness of all 

 opposition, and that his system must speedily supersede all others. The 

 beholder is in fact forced into the most favourable conclusion, without the aid 

 of judgment ; as nothing can more forcibly appeal to the senses. Its effects 

 may be tasted, smelled, and they are as sensible to feeling as to sight. The 

 exquisite flavour of fruit, the unusual degree of fragrance in flowers, the 

 entire absence of all confined or fetid smells, and the comparative ease with 

 which we can bear a degree of temperature that under ordinary circumstances 

 soon becomes intolerable, may all be appreciated by the merest novice. The 

 practised eye of the connoisseur and the practical man must perceive a 

 striking originality of character displayed by every plant that comes under 

 his notice in Mr. Penn's houses. This change of habit must be seen to be 

 fully understood. Still there is no doubt that the effect greatly depends 

 upon the unparalleled breadth of fine foliage so universally displayed ; and upon 

 the absence of all debility of habit, which is more or less apparent in every 

 plant cultivated in the hitherto unnatural atmosphere created by a covering 

 of glass. There is a truly remarkable difference in this respect between some 

 plants of the species flowering with Mr. Penn, and flowering in some of the 

 superb collections in the neighbourhood of London. The flower stems pro- 

 duced in the confinement, and by the excessive stimulus applied by the latter, 

 are elongated, comparatively feeble, and half-pendent from the weight of their 

 blossoms; while with the former they are stubby, elastic, and upright, bearing 

 with ease their fine blossoms, having apparently found the necessity of nerving 

 themselves to withstand the current of air in which they live. 



It would be tedious to descend to the notice of individual species, but in 

 remarking the superiority over general culture so evident, I paid particular 

 attention to such of our old shy favourites as fell in my way; and notwith- 

 standing their general obstinacy, I invariably found them keeping pace with 

 (or rather surpassing) the mass in their approach to perfection. 



Some cucumbers trained up the rafters of a forcing-house were growing 

 with surprising luxuriance, and under them kidneybeans in pots in full bear- 

 ing, and exhibiting (June 1.) all the health and stubbiness they generally do 

 in March or April. Let the practical man mark this. A house of pine 

 planis, without a single exception, of the most magnificent growth, demands a 



