48 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. 



the reason far to seek. TTnless pretty freely per- 

 forated with holes the water cannot obtain free 

 egress from the pots. Hence the beginning of stag- 

 nation at the bases, followed quickly by sour soil, 

 yellowish leaves, and an enfeebled state of health 

 among the plants. 



The remedy, at once simple and practical, for this 

 objection to slate, stone, and concrete for plant-stages 

 has been found in the easy expedient of covering the 

 area or level surfaces of such substances with a 

 layer, a few inches thick, of such porous material as 

 smashed charcoal, oyster or other sheUs, spar, flints, 

 or other substances, coarse gravel or taffia. The 

 best and cleanest of such porous substances is spar 

 broken fine enough to make the pots stand level 

 on it. This not only allows of the free and spon- 



likea nightmare over so many of them would be 

 abolished. 



Such portable stages permit of taUer and larger 

 plants being gTown in smaller houses, and, indeed, in 

 those of all sizes. Considerable space might be 

 kept clear between the stages, and in the largest of 

 these one or more tall Camellia, Aaalea, Ehododen- 

 dron. Orange-tree, Tree Fern, Palm, or other such 

 plants could be placed, adding, by their contrast, a. 

 distinct beauty to the eflEect of the masses of shorter 

 plants grouped on the portable stages. 



Open Floors. — Another good and effective way of 

 furnishing conservatories is to dispense with stages or 

 shelves altogether, and arrange the plants wholly on 

 the floors of the houses. In such cases the whole floor 



Pig. 28.— Staging in Lean-to House. 



Fig. 27. — Staging in Span-roof House. 



taneous egress of water from the base of the pots, 

 but looks exceedingly well in contrast with the ver- 

 dure of the leaves and the beauty of the flowers, 

 and also forms an impregnable barrier to the 

 approach and attack of slugs and other pests from 

 between the plants. 



Portable Staging.— "Without greatly diminish- 

 ing the storing or cultural area of conservatories, 

 very much may be done to break up the monotony 

 and stiffness of the larger formal stages and lines of 

 walks by using a few portable iron or other stages. 

 These should be of handy sizes so as to be moved 

 with ease, and of such height as to suit the size and 

 area of the conservatory. They may be had of iron- 

 mongers and horticultural sundrymen, of all sizes 

 and designs. Their great merit consists in their 

 portability and the facilities they afford for group- 

 ing plants in the most favourable mode and 

 place to insure cultural success and artistic effects. 

 With one or more such stages posted and furnished 

 with taste, a new element of freshness and beauty 

 would be introduced into most conservatories, and 

 the endless sameness and monotony which broods 



should be paved over with tile, stone, or ornamental 

 iron grating of chaste pattern, and sufficiently strong 

 to bear the weight of the plants, and the heavy and 

 constant traffic that their proper culture and full 

 enjoyment necessitate. 



In most of these cases the front shelves are re- 

 tained. But in othei's the shelves are removed and 

 the front of the conservatory is clothed with 

 Tea Eoses or choice climbers, as well as the roof ; 

 and where most of the finer specimen plants are 

 planted out, it is tetter and more satisfactory to 

 dispense with all the shelving as well as the staging. 

 In such cases the centre bed and side borders need not 

 be paved nor covered over, but may be converted into 

 borders and beds of suitable compost, that is, mostly 

 a half-and-half of peat and loam, freely mixed with 

 sand for choice green-house plants and climbers. But 

 for portable plants in pots, tubs or boxes, the better 

 plan is to have the whole floor equally well prepared 

 for a promenade or for grouping the plants. This 

 preparation of base affords full opportunity for fre- 

 quent changes in the arranging of the groups of 

 plants, and the form and area of the walking and 

 enjoying spaces between them. 



