PLAX OF A COXSEEVATORY. 



237 



either in large vases, of which the annexed are examples, pots, hexes, 

 or tubs ; hut these latter should be of the ornamental sort, and ^vhen small 

 specimens grown in common flower pots are introduced, these may 

 be set in vases, or in highly ornamental flower stands. It is the usual 

 method of aiTanging consen-atoiy plants, to plant them in beds of 

 mould prepared for them, but by this means they soon grow too large, 

 and the coarser, and often the most worthless, grow up rapidly and 

 destroy the more rare and valuable, which frequently are of much more 

 slender habits. 



Conservatory plants planted in beds, not only grow too luxuriantly, and 

 after two or three years require to be reduced in size by severe pruning, 

 or removed altogether, but they do not flower so well as they would do 

 in pots of a proper size, neither can they be removed in case of sickness, 

 or at those periods when they are out of flower, or set in the open air 

 during summer. 



We admit that boxes, tubs, vases, &:c., be they ever so ornamental, will 

 be objectionable if in too great a number, or of too large a size. To remedy 

 this objection, the floor may be hollow and covered v»ith a neat orna- 

 mental iron grating, instead of pavement, made in convenient pieces, so 

 as to admit of the larger boxes, tubs, <&c., being placed under it, and 

 having the smaller plants in vases, distributed through the house, so as 

 to produce the most elegant and pleasing effect. 



To those, however, who prefer to plant out their Conservator)- plants in 

 a permanent bed, the following observations may be usefid. 



The whole interior of the house should be excavated to the depth of 

 four feet : below this depth, and in the centre of the bed or beds, a 

 draui (wide cross section, page 234,) should be made, to permit the 

 superfluous water to escape : over this drain, and also over the whole 

 surface of the floor of the beds, a layer of broken stones, flints, brick- 

 bats, or similar matter, should be laid to the depth of ten or 

 twelve inches, upon which the mould for the plants to grow in should 

 be placed. In proceeding to prepare the bed, it will be weU to com- 

 »mence by placing a layer of turf, previously prepared, by being cut 

 and diied so as to become sweetened, but not rotted so as to fall in pieces. 

 The intention of this layer of turf is to prevent the finer particles of the 

 compost soil fi-om being washed down into the drainage below. This 

 turf should be placed ^Tith the grassy side undermost, and closely jointed 

 and beat down. Upon this the following compost soil should be laid, 

 and which should have been in a state of preparation several months 



