712 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



growth. The plant by its respiration consumes 

 the carbonic acid produced by the fish, appro- 

 priating the carbon to the construction of its 

 tissues and fibres, and liberates the oxygen in 

 its gaseous state to sustain the healthy func- 

 tions of animal life, at the same time that it 

 feeds on the rejected matter which has fulfilled 

 its purpose in the nourishment of the fish, and 

 preserves the water constantly in a clean and 

 healthy condition. In reference to the water- 

 snail," he continues, " it finds its proper nutri- 

 ment in the decomposing vegetable matter and 

 minute confervoid growth, prevents their accu- 

 mulation by removing them, and by its vital 

 action converts what would otherwise act as a 

 poison into a rich and fruitful nutriment, again 

 to constitute a pabulum for the vegetable growth, 

 while it also acts the important part of a pur- 

 veyor to its finny neighbours." 



LIST OF TROPICAL AQUATICS. 



Ceratopteris thalictroides; Euryale ferox; Lim- 

 nocharis Humboldtii, Plumierii; Nelumbium 

 album, Tamara, jamaieense, roseum, luteum, 

 caspicum, speciosum, flavescens; Nymphsea am- 

 pla, scutifolia, cEcrulea, stellata, cyanea, Devo- 

 niensis (a hybrid between N. rubra and N. 

 lotus), pubescens, Lotus, biradiata, gigantea, 

 reniformis, macrantha, odorata, pygmsea, rubra, 

 rubra var. rosea; Papyrus antiquorum, odoratus, 

 laxiflorus, elegans; Pistia stratiotes; Pontederia 

 crassipes, dilatata, lanceolata, azurea; Victoria 

 regia; Vallisneria spiralis; Villarsia ovata, indica, 

 lacunosa, chilensis, geminata, sarmentosa, par- 

 nassifolia, reniformis; Jussieua, the whole genus ; 

 Alisma cordifolia, parnassifolia; Orontium aqua- 

 ticum; Hypoxis aquatica ; Byblis liniflora; Al- 

 drovanda vesiculosa; Oryza sativa (the culti- 

 vated rice-plant), latifolia, nepalensis ; Saururus 

 cernuus, lucidus, chinensis; Trapa quadrispinosa, 

 bioomis, bispinosa ; Elodea guianensis. 



§ 7. — THE STOVE OR TROPICAL 

 PLANT HOUSE. 



The plants which come under the denomina- 

 tion stove or tropical plants, are not only vastly 

 numerous, but they differ greatly in chai'acter and 

 magnitude. Amongst them are found many of 

 the greatest floral beauty, singularity in foliage 

 or structure, importance in the arts, and many 

 producing fruit of the most delicious flavour. 

 Indeed, so diversified is this vast assemblage of 

 plants, that to attempt to cultivate even a single 

 representative of each family within the limits 

 of one structure is impossible; and hence we 

 have tropical fruit-houses, palm-houses, moist 

 and dry stoves, orchid-houses, aquariums, &c. 

 The two latter of these we have noticed; of the 

 others we will now briefly speak. In regard to 

 structure, as the majority of tropical fruit-bear- 

 ing plants and trees attain a. considerable alti- 

 tude, and grow naturally exposed to the full 

 force of a tropical sun, it follows that houses for 

 their cultivation should not only be lofty — some 

 of the bananas and plantains attaining the height 

 of 30 or 40 feet^but that they should also be as 



transparent as possible. Hence curvilinear or 

 span-roofed houses, constructed of glass to within 

 a foot or two of the ground, are found to be the 

 most eligible. In addition to this, ample means 

 should be secured for not only maintaining a 

 sufBcient degree of atmospheric temperature, but 

 for applying bottom-heat also. On abundance 

 of light aad heat much of the success depends. 

 Another important part of their culture, we 

 assert, is their being planted in tubs or slate 

 cases instead of being planted out in bor- 

 ders, be they ever so well prepared. We 

 would prefer slate cases, as offering less resist- 

 ance to the penetration of heat to the roots, 

 as well as being more elegant and durable, and 

 admitting of the renewal of exhausted soil, and 

 examination of the state of the roots. Many 

 of the tropical fruits might readily be ripened if 

 trained to trelHses near the glass, after the 

 manner of peaches and vines; but there are 

 others, such as the Musas, which can only he 

 grown when allowed to take their natural habit 

 of growth. 



The genus Anona, or custard apple, furnishes 

 nine species of fruits, the most important of 

 which is A. Cherimolia. They all require a rich 

 soil, and are readily propagated by cuttings, or 

 by imported seed. 



As to Artocarpus incisa, the bread-fruit, A. 

 integrifoHa, jack-fruit, neither of them, we be- 

 lieve, has fruited in Europe. The former is a 

 plant of difficult culture, and hence rare even 

 in our botanical collections. Notwithstanding, 

 yoimg plants might easily be imported from St 

 Vincent or Jamaica by the "West India mail- 

 steamers. A rich soil is indispensable, and either 

 may be increased by cuttings taken from esta- 

 blished plants or imported seed. The import- 

 ation of young plants, however, in Wardian cases 

 would be the most certain. 



Achras mpotilla, the Zapotilla plum, A. Sa- 

 pota, JEgle Marmelos, Bengal quince, are readily 

 propagated by cuttings of the half-ripened wood, 

 and, like most fruits, require a rich soil. 



Blighia sapida, (the akee tree), a fruit much 

 esteemed in the West Indies, is readily propagat- 

 ed by seed, layers, or cuttings; but as it is apt 

 to sport into varieties when propagated by the 

 former means, recourse must be had to grafting 

 or budding to continue approved sorts. 



Coffea arabica, (the coffee of commerce), is a 

 plant of easy culture, and readily, propagated by 

 seed, which ripen freely in our stoves. It is 

 exceedingly Uable to the attack of a species of 

 Coccus, seemingly Coccus adonidum {Lin.) The 

 fragrance of its blossom is delightful, and the 

 abundance of fruit exceedingly great. 



Carpodinus dulcis, (sweet Pishamin), a native 

 of Sierra Leone; plant of a climbing shrubby 

 nature, producing fruit resembling the lime, 

 exceedingly grateful and sweet ; propagated by 

 seeds or cuttings. 



Durio zebetfunus.— Said by Rumphuis to be 

 the most excellent fruit of India; propagated 

 by seeds, which may readily be imported from 

 Calcutta. 



Eugenia malaccensis, Malay apple ; E. Jambos, 

 jamrosade, or rose-apple; E. macrocarpa, and 

 others of the family, fruit freely, and are of easy 



