186 GKBENHOUSE PLANTS. 



which form fine ornamental objects in our greenhouses. The 

 species of the Epacris order are almost entirely confined to 

 that country, which also contains large numbers of the 

 Myrtacem, Rutacem, and Leguminosm, the latter, in many in- 

 stances, forming beautiful, compact, free-blooming shrubs, as 

 illustrated in the Acacias which abound there, and form fine 

 ornamental shrubs and trees, the ornamental capabilities of 

 which were much more thoroughly appreciated a few years 

 ago than they are at the present time. Then, throughout the 

 winter and spring, one might see conservatories and green- 

 houses gay with their gorgeous masses of golden flowers, 

 forming splendid backgrounds for the display of other smaller- 

 growing and more delicate early-flowering plants ; but now, 

 these are scarcely ever to be seen, although nothing half so 

 efi'ective has been found to supply their place. This fault 

 will, we trust, ere long be remedied, so that the fine old 

 Acacias may again become, as they formerly were, prominent 

 objects in our winter and spring display of greenhouse 

 flowers. 



Many of the plants from New Holland and the Cape are 

 similar in habit and colour of flowers, and it would be per- 

 fectly impossible for a person of limited space to grow all, 

 therefore we have briefly described in these pages only the 

 most desirable, and from which a choice collection may be 

 formed. 



Such plants as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Calceolarias, and 

 others of a like nature, have not been treated in detail in this 

 work, but have been collected under the title of " Florists' 

 Flowers and Soft-wooded Plants," the remarks being confined 

 to their culture only, not from any wish or intention to depre- 

 ciate their merits, for they are most attractive and highly 

 ornamental objects in their season ; but the varieties are so 

 numerous, and the differences in some cases so very slight — 



