128 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



thing can be more opposite to natural principles, than 

 for a deciduous tree to grow in the shade or under 

 the drip of an evergreen. By trees, of course, we 

 are to be considered as referring to such woody plants 

 as come up with single erect stems, as the orange, in 

 opposition to such as come up with bushy stems, or 

 numerous suckers, as the myrtle, rose, fuchsia, &c. 



Wherever there is a tolerable collection of green- 

 house plants, it is desirable that they should be 

 named. To make use of the proper and correct 

 names of objects is an important part of common 

 conversation, and nothing can lead to a correct ap- 

 plication of botanical names, but affixing them by 

 some means to the plant, or pot containing it. It is 

 also very desirable that plants should be named, with 

 a view to children, as the perusal and recollection of 

 these names will aid in strengthening their memory, 

 enlarge their powers of pronunciation, and create a 

 taste for natural history. 



The most common mode of naming plants in pots, 

 is to take a flat slip of wood, sharpen one end ; rub 

 a little white lead on an inch or two of its smoothest 

 surface at the opposite end, write the name with a 

 black lead pencil on this lead, and then insert the stick 

 in the pot. Tliis is the mode adopted in the nurse- 

 ries, and will last several years. Another suitable 

 mode for a private green-house, is to put the name in 

 black letters of oil colour on a neat small stick 

 painted white : but the most recent and pleasing 



