290 



REFORM IN THE CONSERVATORY. 



banker^ Outcliine, at St. Petersburg ; but I feel 1 bave 

 already said too mucb. To my tbinking, it is^ bowever^ a 

 truly important topic, and I bope to live to see more 

 interest taken in tbe beauty of tbe conservatory, of its tout 

 ensemble, and less of tbe rarity of tbe plants and flowers.^'' 



To any person witb a knowledge of -wbat tbe beauty of 

 vegetation really is tbere can be no doubt of tbe correct- 

 ness of tbese views. Tbe rule 

 tberefore in every conservatory 

 in tbe land sbould be to use 

 plants of bandsome foliage or 

 noble babit. Plant tbem in 

 beds or borders ; grow tbem 

 in pots or tubs; tbe means, 

 size, and requirements of tbe 

 place must determine on wbat 

 scale tbe tbing may be^carried 

 out. In some degree tbe effect 

 desired may be produced in tbe 

 smallest greenbouse ; wbere tbe 

 space is large enougb to deve- 

 lope tbe effect of tbe finer 

 plants named, tbe aspect tbat 

 may be wrougbt by tbeir taste- 

 ful use will prove ravisbing, 

 compared to tbat of tbe old 

 display of small-leaved, ordi- 

 nary-looking vegetation. 



In planting out, select tbings 

 tbat are graceful and orna- 

 mental during tbe wbole course 

 of tbeir natural lives. Do 

 not plant subjects wbicb, like Acacias, run up to tbe roof 

 in no time, giving you a mass of bloom for a week or 

 two in spring, and a great mop-bead of ugliness for tbe 

 remainder of tbe year. A great many greenbouse plants 

 grow like tbese ; but if you plant out a Palm like Cbamse- 

 rops, or a tbing like tbe New Zealand Flax or tbe superb 

 Musa Ensete, tbey are presentable and satisfactory at all 



Goniophlebiuni in suspension 

 basket. 



