§14 



THE GREEN-HOUSE, 



"down to the ground, and when this is done care must 

 he taken not to go below the graft. We have heard 

 of a collection of Camellias planted in a conservatory 

 in Kent, which after seven years' growth were cut 

 down in this way to renew them : they all grew most 

 vigorously, but when they came to blossom showed 

 only single red flowers, which told what had been 

 - done. The conservatory alluded to had a fixed roof, 

 and the plants could only enjoy the weather through 

 the sides ; by which most erroneous construction the 

 plants became etiolated, and so naked below that every 

 six or seven years they had all either to be cut down 

 or renewed. 



A very agreeable ornament to the beds and borders 

 of the conservatory is formed by planting them with 

 the stronger- growing species of I^ocicb, Gladioli, and 

 the other genera lately separated from these. The 

 fine tall stems of these bulbs shoot up through the 

 woody undergrowths, and their brilliant red, scarlet, 

 and white flowers make a fine appearance. They 

 may be planted in the beds exactly at the same time 

 in which they are potted for green-house culture, and 

 they may remain two or three years in the soil, if de- 

 sired, without injury, flowering every year. 



A cistern is frequently placed in the conservatory 

 and devoted to the culture of aquatics. Though most 

 of these are hot-house plants, and require more heat 

 than is proper for this department, yet some species 

 of the NymphcB^a, Menyanthes, jiponogeton, Hedy^- 

 chium, Calla, Trapay &c., will live there, and flower 



