244 THE PAEKS AND GAEDENS OF PAEIS. [Chap. XV. 



the conservatory, is by making a closely- glazed case therein fitted 

 up with rustic shelves. In this might be placed any Orchids, 

 choice Ferns, or not over-large stove-plants that come in flower 

 in winter, spring, and autumn, and by interspersing them with 

 the choicer dwarf fine-leaved plants so common of late in our 

 stoves, a welcome feature would be added to the conservatory. As 

 the plants would only remain in this case during their period of 

 flowering, and fine foliaged plants perhaps a few weeks longer, 

 the position of the case as to light matters little. Against the 

 back or some other wall of the house is of course the best position ; 

 and if therebe an arched recess, it might be taken advantage of. 

 To heat a little boiler sufficiently to keep any desired temperature 

 in the case would be easy, and to do it with gas would be con- 

 venient to many. To make the wall and the shelves in this case 

 of a rustic character is a good and tasteful plan ; they should be 

 studded with Moss, which if kept moist will give ofi' the vapour 

 so congenial to stove-plants, and the windows or folding-doors 

 should be fitted with single sheets of glass, kept clear at all 

 times. It would be easy to induce the common Lycopodium, 

 seedling Ferns, and miniature stove Mosses to crowd over the 

 back wall and indeed on every rocky surface in the case, or even 

 to grow on turves placed along the front shelves. 



The Plant Decoration of Apartments. 



The graceful custom of growing plants in dwelling-rooms is 

 very much more prevalent on the Continent than in England. It 

 is true that we often see a display of flowering-plants in rooms 

 though rarely subjects distinguished by beauty of form, or adapted 

 for culture indoors. But the day is approaching when the value 

 of graceful plants as honse-ornaments will be recognised. That 

 the substitution of life and changeful interest for much that is 

 without these qualities, will prove a gain, few will doubt. Apart 

 altogether from their efiect as ornaments, what can more 

 agreeably introduce us to the study of plant life? Eooms are 

 often overcrowded with ornaments, many of them representa- 

 tions of natural objects ; but in the case of the plants we may, 

 without inconvenience, enjoy the natural objects themselves'. 



