280 



THE TROPICAL HOUSE. 



Tropical plant culture requii-es also another species of improvement, 

 namely, distinguishing what plants really require the temperature of the 

 stove from those which do not ; for there are some in most collections 

 that would thrive much better if kept in the greenhouse or conservatory. 



Some have recommended a botanical or systematic arrangement for plants 

 in houses ; we can, however, see no real utihty in the plan^ beyond that 

 of arranging them into groups or sections suitable for their better culture. 

 No complete system of scientific arrangement can possibly be illustrated 

 by plants in houses, because in many natural orders not one single speci- 

 men requiring protection is to be found, and in many others, the plants 

 of which may be more tender, the culture they require is diametrically 

 opposite in some genera. The arrangement we have proposed, however, 

 admits of a very pleasing sub-arrangement in respect to some orders 

 which require nearly the same mode of treatment. For instance, the 

 numerous family of heaths {Erica) may be arranged in the heathery, so 

 that each species may follow that most nearly related to it, without 

 interfering with the routine of culture. The same may be also said of 

 succulent plants and bulbs ; but then it should be remembered that in 

 neither of these cases do the plants all belong to one natural order^ 

 strictly speaking. Such being the case, therefore, we think few will 

 attempt any other mode of an-angement than that we have pointed out^ 

 or perhaps one founded upon it, better calculated to suit the local cir- 

 cumstances of the collection. 



