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L. On the Cultivation of the Species and Varieties of Hedy- 

 chium in a Stove. In a Letter to the Secretary. By 

 Mr. Joseph Cooper, Corresponding Member of the 

 Horticultural Society y Botanic Gardener to the Viscount 

 Milton, F. H. S. at Wentworth House in Yorkshire. 



Read March 21, 1826. 



Sir, 



The Scitamineae are so beautiful, and so interesting, both on 

 account of the splendid flowers which many of them produce, 

 and their utility, that I do not wonder at the pleasure 

 you enjoy in seeing them cultivated in English Hothouses. 

 In the collection of Lord Milton at this place, a considerable 

 number of this order of plants is cultivated. That the 

 Hedychiums which form part of the collection should meet 

 with your approbation in your late visit to Wentworth House, 

 and that you should express yourself in terms of admiration 

 at their appearance, and of the attention which had been paid 

 to their cultivation, was highly gratifying to me ; for culti- 

 vators of plants ought not, I conceive, to be insensible to the 

 observations or remarks of those who are competent to judge 

 of their labours ; whatever is calculated to excite them to 

 excel or to improve must be very beneficial to them, and 

 perhaps, ultimately, to the public at large. 



As you requested me to send you an account of my method 

 of treating the Hedychiums, I will begin at the period when 

 they have done flowering, which some had, when you were 



