r 



CONSERVATORIES 159 



Azalea indica, Pelargonium, Primula, Cyclamen, 

 Streptocarpus, Hippeastrum, Vallota, Chrysanthe- 

 mum, and Canna. Then all the best of the bulbs 

 that force well : Tulip, Hyacinth, Narcissus, Nerine, 

 Freesia, Lachenalia ; and successions of Mignonette 

 and Lily-of-the-Valley, and those of our hardy 

 plants that will bear a little forcing like hardy 

 Azalea and Solomon's Seal and Funkia. What a 

 pleasure it would be to go to the service houses 

 and choose the plants for the making of the pic- 

 tures, gathering them together by sorts on a low 

 trolley, where ah'eady one could see at a glance 

 that the plants for each group would go well to- 

 gether for colour ; and what a satisfaction it would 

 be to be able to show the well-arranged plant- 

 pictures, and how helpful to both employers and 

 gardeners ! 



I have only attempted to give a very slight 

 sketch of what might be done in an important 

 range of such houses, but I think it desirable to 

 get out of the beaten track not only in the way of 

 arrangement but in choice of plants. How seldom, 

 except in gardens specially given to their culture, 

 does one see enough use made of the lovely and 

 fragrant tropical Rhododendrons, or the delightful 

 Luculia gratissima, or of the sweetness of Boronia, or 

 noble climbers like Beaumontia and Schubertia, or gems 

 of purest colouring like Zcschenmdtia ! Even old 

 favourites get forgotten, for though quite easy to 



