376 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are planted so that each one has plenty of room and a little to 

 spare, smaller examples of flowering plants can be introduced 

 between them, the pots of course being plunged. Where this is 

 done it is a good plan to have empty pots sunk level with the 

 soil ; into these the plants can be dropped. Some permanent 

 specimens, as Agaves and other succulents, would be found to 

 do better if retained in pots or tubs. Many plants which are of 

 ornamental character can be transferred from the stove to the 

 conservatory during the summer months— Crotons in variety, 

 Dracaenas, such as D. terminalis, D. Baptistii, D. Youngii, 

 D. amabilis, and D. Shepherdii, with the hardier of the Stove 

 Palms, as Arecalutescens. Both the Crotons and Dracaenas will 

 afford a pleasing change and lighten up the sombre appearance 

 of other foliage plants when there is a deficiency of flowering 

 -examples. Glerodendron fallax, a plant of noble growth when of 

 specimen size, can also be kept in good condition in the con- 

 servatory for several weeks. Greater care is necessary in the 

 watering of stove plants so employed, less being required. 



Eockwork, when well clothed with plants of ornamental foliage 

 of suitable character, is a splendid addition to conservatories, 

 particularly where a wall which is unsightly has in a manner to 

 be hidden. These places are most suitable for the foliage 

 Begonias, Ligularia Kcempferi arge?itea, the variegated grasses 

 and Ferns. Of the latter, where it is possible to use them to 

 advantage, the larger forms of the Nephrolepis should not be 

 overlooked. Ferneries composed of either natural or artificial 

 rock work, with the Ferns planted out, are most attractive features. 

 The hardier of our exotic Ferns may be thus grown without 

 any fire-heat at all, particularly several of the Filmy Ferns, 

 fine examples of which may be seen in the fernery at the 

 York nurseries of Messrs. Backhouse. This is sunk below the 

 ground-level, hence partially protected. With a fair command 

 •of heat, many tender kinds can be successfully grown when 

 planted out. The adaptation of rockwork and Ferns to Orchid- 

 houses is, I think, an excellent idea, adding a charm even to 

 those popular and attractive plants. A capital example of this 

 description is that which can be seen at the Chelsea nurseries of 

 the Messrs. Veitch. A new and suggestive departure in the same 

 nurseries has recently been made in another Orchid-house, where 

 eockwork with Ferns surround a tank in which Aquatics are grow- 



