248 THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OP PARIS. [Chap. XV. 



exaltata is universally useful, and withstands the air of rooms 

 without the slightest injury. 



Experience has shown me that Orchids may be introduced into 

 a drawing-room with perfect success, the plants not having 

 suffered in the least by the change of atmosphere. The most 

 suitable are the various species of Cattleya, Vanda, Aerides, and 

 Cypripedium. Doubtless the time is not far distant when we 

 may venture to try many more kinds than we can now afford to 

 do ; but even from what we have already done in that way, I 

 entertain no doubt that the Orchid family will eventually furnish 

 the most valuable of all plants for room-decoration. True, they 

 may not live throughout the year in rooms as Ficuses and such 

 plants do, but that is not desirable — their appearance, as a rule, 

 not being prepossessing when out of flower. The quality that they 

 do possess, and that which makes them so valuable, is the thick 

 succulent texture of the flowers generally. This enables them to 

 continue a long time in bloom in a room, and a like kind of 

 texture enables the leaves to stand during the blooming-time 

 without injury. 



We ourselves are foremost so far as flowering-plants are con- 

 cerned, ours being as a rule better grown. One plant, however, 

 cultivated in great abundance around Paris for winter-blooming, 

 is well worthy of increased attention — Epiphyllum truncatum. 

 There are several varieties, and they certainly form most beautiful 

 objects on dull December days. The employment of simple 

 materials is also to be commended. Thus the variegated form of 

 the common Koast-beef plant — Iris fcetidissima— may be seen 

 occasionally used with good effect. We mostly use hot-country 

 plants if we want those that live long in our dwelling-rooms, but 

 this is a true hardy native which well deserves culture indoors. 

 It forms a very pretty plant for room-decoration, requires none 

 but the most ordinary attention, and is easily obtained. In 

 France the plant is rather commonly used as an edging. The 

 Acanthuses too, and particularly A. lusitanicus, used so effectively 

 out-of-doors, are also grown abundantly in rooms, where they do 

 very well. 



A sketch here given shows Acanthus latifolius, as grown in a 

 window, but no drawing could represent its superb health and 

 the deep untiring gloss of its fine leaves as they are seen from 



