1008 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [JaW 



balls, which are well-known to be great destroyers of plants ; 

 and as these are, for the most part, seen by candle-light, the 

 illusion will be the more complete. Thus groves of Camellias, 

 covered with innumerable bloom, some fully expanded, others 

 less so, of all the forms and colors that this splendid family 

 sports into ; and groupes of oranges, laden with artificial fruit, 

 or natural fruit fastened on the trees, and bloom, would, of 

 themselves, be pleasing objects, and give a character to these 

 scenes not ever to be attained naturally, and which would be 

 accomplishing a desideratum always wished for, but never per- 

 fectly attained. Indeed, it would be difficult to say how far 

 this idea might be carried. The liattt ton might be enabled 

 readily to convert their drawing-rooms into a temporary con- 

 servatory, adorned with all the varied hues of Flora, and, by 

 artificial means, diffuse a fragrance by very simple means, both 

 exhilarating and delightful. 



PLANTS IN PITS AND COLD FRAMES. 



Where extensive collections are kept up, it will be found a 

 very necessary appendage to have one or more pits or frames 

 for the protection of plants which are sufficiently hardy to stand 

 our winters without fire-heat. Indeed, many of the best culti- 

 vators amongst the London nurserymen, manage to keep a 

 great portion of their stock in such places ; amongst them may 

 be mentioned Mr. Henderson, Pine Apple Place, Edgware 

 Road, one of the best cultivators of plants round London ; and 

 Jenkins, of the Portman Nursery. The former keeps his 

 heaths. Ericas, and many other Cape and New Holland plants, 

 in common garden frames, covered with mats, during severe 

 weather, and few persons succeed better in their cultivation. 



In all private collections, pits or deep frames will be found 

 exceedingly useful for the protection of Ericas, Hydrangea, 

 Fuschia, Mysius, and many others Their principal manage- 

 ment, at this season, consists in carefully covering them at 

 nights, and during frosty days, with mats, sti'aw, or soft hay, 

 to exclude the frost, and by ventilating them sufficiently in 

 fine weather. The principal feature in their whole winter 

 treatment consists in keeping them as dry as possible, and free 



