1082 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [DcC, 



count of it in any horticultural work that has come under our 

 observation ; viz. that several rare plants that do not perfect 

 their seeds with us from the flowers produced in summer, do 

 so from flowers produced during the winter. It is not here 

 the place, probably, to endeavour to account philosophically 

 for such a cause, which would require more room in the elu- 

 cidation than we can spare, in a work professedly plain and 

 practical, but that such is the fact we have more than once 

 had an opportunity of witnessing. This is the case with such 

 plants in particular as abound with that honey-like matter, 

 poetically called nectar, from its being the fancied drink of 

 the gods. A too abundant supply of this liquid, which is sup- 

 posed the primitive food of seeds, may probably be the cause 

 of the sterility of those plants, which abound with it during 

 summer, when it is naturally more abundant in them. During 

 autumn and winter it is in much less quantity in flawers, and 

 in this manner may be just sufficient, and no more, 'for that im- 

 portant ofhce for which Nature has designed it. 



The green-house and conservatory will now be the favorite 

 lounge of the proprietor who indulges in the beauties of Flora, 

 they should therefore be kept in the greatest possible order 

 and neatness. Should insects appear upon the stems or leaves 

 of the plants, they should be suppressed by some of the nu- 

 merous rules laid down in various parts of this work, or by 

 means probably more economical, convenient, and complete, 

 which the cultivator may either devise or adopt. 



