For a number of 3'ears the cultivation of stove plants has 

 held a high place in British Gardening, and no wonder when 

 one considers the pleasure of growing, enjoying, and studying 

 the beautiful, curious, and useful plants of tropical countries 

 in our own gardens, and the instruction derived therefrom. 

 The extensive commercial relations Great Britain enjoys in trading 

 with foreign countries, together with her numerous colonies in all 

 parts of the world, places her people in a unique position for 

 investigating the resources of the Vegetable World, and procuring 

 the beautiful and curious plants of the tropics. This has been 

 taken advantage of and extended by the liberality of private 

 individuals and enterprising commercial firms, in sending plant- 

 collectors to all parts of the world. Our Government has also 

 established botanic gardens at home and in many of the 

 colonies, with ardent directors to develop the resources of nature 

 and to extend our knowledge of both economic and decorative 

 plants. 



Stove plants are those which are natives of tropical countries, 

 and their successful cultivation requires considerable heat, and 

 generally a large amount of moisture, in order to approximate to 

 the conditions under which they grow naturally. Nevertheless 



