90 ORNAMENTAL WINTER AND SPRING FLOWERING PLANTS. 



ment for future proceedings in these matters. Such plants as 

 the Pink, Perpetual Carnation, Roses, &c, are most acceptable 

 at all times ; and as these are easily raised in any quantity, there 

 is not so great an objection to a portion of them being subjected 

 to the severe forcing they often receive. But in a general way, 

 I am certain that much more satisfactory results would be ob- 

 tained by exciting the majority of our favourite forcing plants 

 only a short time before their natural period of flowering. 



In the following remarks I have endeavoured to keep each 

 plant to that portion of the winter when it can be made most 

 useful with the least trouble. I have omitted many plants that 

 are commonly used for the purpose of winter and spring decora- 

 tion, but which are less beautiful than those selected ; and I 

 have passed over many which are condemned on account of the 

 dull colour of their flowers, or the meagre appearance of their 

 foliage, and others which, although winter is their season of 

 flowering, do not blossom with sufficient profuseness to render 

 them objects of interest. I think it preferable to grow only a 

 selection, not a collection of plants, and thus obtain a greater 

 display from the same quantity of glass ; as we can afford to 

 grow a larger number of those plants which are useful, and give 

 them more room to display their beauties. 



Subjoined are lists of plants which are really wanted, and 

 generally easy of management. Those whose period of useful- 

 ness belongs to the earlier part of the winter, from the first ap- 

 pearance of frost to the middle or end of January, are marked 1 ; 

 and others which serve to continue the display till abundance of 

 flowers again greet us in the open air, are numbered 2. Many 

 plants are useful during the greater part of both these periods, 

 and are distinguished by the two numbers being affixed to their 

 names. 



In making these lists it is not expected that any one person 

 will grow all the plants mentioned, but it is hoped that they 

 may be useful in aiding parties to make a selection of such as 

 will suit their particular circumstances. 



List 1. 



Plants suitable for Conservatory and Drawing-room decoration, which 

 flower naturally during winter and early in spring, but which are either 

 not adapted for forcing, or do not require it : — 



Angelonia salicarisefolia . . 1 



Cestrum aurantiacum ... 1 



Chrysanthemum . . . . 1 



Epiphyllum truncatum . . 1 



Gesnera zebrina .... 1 



Habrothamnus elegans . . 1 



Oxalis versicolor .... 1 



Cypripedium insigne ... 1 



Acacia dealbata . . . . 1, 2 



discolor 1, 2 



Begonia insignis . . . . 1, 2 



fuchsioides . . . 1, 2 



nitida, & several others 1, 2 



Cineraria 1, 2 



