136 
ON SUSPENDING PLANTS IN GREENHOUSES AND STOVES. 
and blooming in this way almost immediately, while other and similar specimens 
had been several years in pots without flowering. Russellia juncea is well known 
to look best when hung up in a pot ; its interesting rush-like branches, prettily 
studded with their bright red blossoms, waving airily far beneath the bottom of the 
pot. From the beauty which we have observed Thunbergias exhibiting when 
trained to a trellis beneath the pot in which they were growing, we should judge 
that they would be particularly fascinating if suspended as we have suggested, and 
their branches left to depend naturally. The points of the shoots might sometimes 
require a little checking, but this could be done with the greatest facility. The 
varieties of alata, and all the kinds related to it in habit, and in the form of their 
flowers, are what we allude to. In the same way we believe Lantana Selloviana 
would compose an elegant mass, though it might be grown as well in the green- 
house. 
That some of the epiphyllous sorts of Cacti will grow most luxuriantly in moss, 
either fastened by wire into a ball or placed in a wire basket, is a fact that needs 
not now to be confirmed. Cerens speciosus, Epiphyllum Ackermannice, splendidum, 
alatum, and others, with Cereus flagelliformis, are very engaging when so cul- 
tivated, and the last named plant may also be kept in a pot : of course, we mean 
that all should be suspended. Epiphyllum truncatum and its varieties, when 
reared from cuttings, have a beautiful effect when suspended in a small pot. 
Ferns, moreover, and Lycopodiums, present an almost endless variety of subjects 
for such management. 
It would be tedious to go on enumerating species, and we shall only add, that 
if the atmosphere of the stove be kept moist, Ficus elastica^ a great quantity of the 
stronger Ferns, some Catasetums and Grammatophyllums among OrchidaceEe, and 
doubtless most of those shrubby or other plants that emit their roots into the air, 
will thrive in perfection when simply suspended, without either soil, moss, pot, 
basket, or anything else about their roots. Experiments are, however, much 
needed on this matter, and their results could not fail to be interesting. 
One other stove trailer, half an epiphyte, which we have omitted hitherto to 
mention, deserves prominent notice on account of its extreme suitability to our 
purpose. It is a species of Chlorophytum^ probably orchidastrum, which protrudes 
long shoots all around it, that hang down in the air, bearing shoots, roots, and 
panicles of pretty white flowers at intervals of nine inches or less. It flourishes in 
either soil or moss, and is an excellent plant for affixing to those small tree-like 
branches that we have previously spoken of as well adapted for sustaining 
OrchidaceEe. 
Perhaps, while the application of the system we have propounded will not be 
questioned in reference to stove plants, it will be disputed when brought to bear on 
greenhouse species. To these, then, we shall now direct our observations. The 
very beautiful Saxifraga sarrnentosa is often suspended, both in windows and 
greenhouses ; though not, we think, with a frequency proportionate to its deservings. 
