092 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



same time exceedingly beautiful genera, may be said to be 

 with propriety excluded from the borders of the conservatory ; 

 these are the families of Erica, Protea, Geranium, including 

 the whole natural order of Geraniaceas, Gnaphalium, Eli' 

 cJirysum, Mesembryanthemum, and some others, which are 

 found to prosper much better in pots placed on shelves, or in 

 situations very much exposed to a free circulation of air and 

 abundance of sun-shine. They become, however, exceedingly 

 valuable for decorating the front parts of conservatories while 

 in flower, and to be afterwards removed to the green-house, 

 which may be said to be their proper habitation. Of what 

 are generally denominated Botany-Bay plants, and which in- 

 clude those of New Zealand, &c., fewer exceptions are to be 

 found. True it is, that some cultivators have laid it down as 

 a rule, that no plants from those countries, belonging to the 

 natural order Proteacece, will succeed if planted out in con- 

 servatory borders ; this is, however, now found to be erro- 

 neous, as many beautiful specimens are now to be seen, of this 

 description, which prosper exceedingly well. 



A conservatory completely furnished with New-Holland 

 plants, may be considered very complete, and probably, with 

 the addition of Camellias, and two or three other Chinese or 

 Japanese plants, with the magnificent Rhododendron arborea, 

 from the Nepaul Mountains, may be considered the acme of 

 perfection. The splendid collections of Mr. Mackay at Upper 

 Clapton, of Mr. Colvil and Mr. Knight of the King's-Road, 

 will present ample opportunities for forming a collection of 

 these plants, unequalled in Europe 



In turning out plants from pots into the borders, care should 

 be taken that the state of their roots and ball be examined, 

 for unless attention be paid to this circumstance, many of them 

 will to a certainty fail. Where the balls are hard, and the 

 roots much matted, they should be broken, and the roots 

 singled out considerably ; for if that be not done, they will, 

 in many cases, send out no roots into the border, and 

 consequently, in watering, the water will pass through the 

 light mould in the border, while the roots remaining in the 

 old hard ball will not derive a sufficient degree of moisture ; 



