08 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
other, could conduct the department so well 
as Mr. Thompson. Mr. Munroe, the gardener, 
is one of those persevering, quiet, but expe- 
rienced persons, who, like the mainspring of a 
watch, keep every thing going by their regu- 
larity, precision, and equal force. Much has 
been said and written about the society having 
propagated common plants to distribute to its 
members — much to the injury of the nursery 
trade; a thing not contemplated in its objects — 
but, without defending this proceeding as a 
principle, we are bound to look over it as an 
expediency forced upon the management by 
the unfortunate death of Mr. Douglas, their 
collector, who, as is too well known, fell avprey 
to wild beasts, while treading almost unknown 
lands in search of botanical novelties. This 
awful visitation caused for a time a lapse in 
the supply of new subjects, and the council 
were, in some measure, bound to supply the 
subscribers of four guineas per annum with 
something; this, though not a justification of 
the proceeding as a principle, was, at least, 
excusable ; and if the supply, as regarded old 
subjects, or rather nursery subjects, was abated 
afterwards, which we are informed was the 
case, there was no real ground of complaint. 
We need scarcely say, that to the collectors of 
the Horticultural Society we are indebted for 
the introduction of some of the most beautiful 
plants in existence, and, indeed, for almost 
nine-tenths of the novelties that have been im- 
ported since it was fairly established ; and a 
vast number of them through the instrumen- 
tality of the gentleman whose lamented and 
melancholy fate we have, in common with 
every lover of horticulture, had to deplore. 
In the gardens of the society all the varieties 
of fruit are preserved as long as possible. 
Almost every description of pit, house, stove, 
frame, and contrivance for artificial tempe- 
rature, has been tried, and many are now in 
use. A lofty conservatory has been erected, 
and planted with many curious specimen 
plants ; and the establishment of shows three 
or four times a year draws many thousands 
from long distances to see such collections of 
plants as are not seen at any other place, 
unless it be the Regent's Park, where there 
are also shows, supported, for the most part, 
by the same exhibitors ; and the rivalry per- 
haps increases the attractions of both shows. 
There are many bits of effective planting about 
the grounds ; most of the subjects have been 
placed in groups, each of one genus ; and in 
parts there is considerable taste in the group- 
ing ; nevertheless, many of the shrubs have 
outgrown their stations, and constant removals 
have been, and will for some time continue 
to be, the consequence; many of the early 
planted specimens fairly occupying all the 
room formerly devoted to the whole group. 
Broad straight walks, albeit in our mind highly 
improper for a private estate, are very appro- 
priate for crowded gardens, and gardens open 
to the multitude. There are many spots and 
objects well adapted for sketching, and that 
which heads the present brief notice is among 
them. We ought to notice, that the conser- 
vatory is only one wing of the intended edifice, 
though, so far as appearance goes, it is com- 
plete in its way. Fellows of the society are 
entitled to many privileges, and are admitted 
by ballot, after being proposed by three mem- 
bers, and the name suspended in the public 
room three several days of meeting, the fee 
being six guineas entrance, and four guineas 
per annum. 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR MARCH. 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
Many of the earlier-growing plants, and 
especially such as Camellias, will now be 
making their annual growth ; and, as much of 
the success of flowering them will next year 
depend on the manner in which this growth 
is effected and matured, whatever assistance 
can be rendered should be afforded to the 
plants. A trifling increase of warmth, which 
is desirable for them, will, in most cases, be 
produced by the increased power of the sun 
at this season ; but care must be taken to 
render as much heat as possible, derived from 
this source, available to the plant : one great 
means of doing this is, to avoid the foolish 
custom of setting every door and window open 
as soon as the heat begins to rise a little, by 
which the temperature is not only lowered, 
but the plants subjected to a chilling draught. 
Ventilation, to a certain extent, is necessary 
and desirable ; but the means necessary to 
produce even great results in this way, are by 
no means so comprehensive as is generally 
imagined : the judicious opening of one or 
two ventilators at the top of the house, and 
a very slight opening indeed below, will pro- 
duce a rapid change in this respect. In mois- 
ture as much assistance must be given as can 
be, but the house being required to be kept 
also highly decorated with plants in bloom, a 
generally humid atmosphere cannot be in- 
dulged in : the best thing to do, is to sprinkle 
the individual plants daily with tepid water, 
through a very fine syringe, and also the soil 
about them — : not enough to make it wet, but 
