i56 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
(lesser.) They belong to the natural order 
LentibulaceaB. 
Vallisneria spiralis, (spiral Vallisneria,) is a 
very curious plant, with long, narrow, strap- 
shaped leaves, and minute white flowers, 
born on long slender thread-like stems, which, 
as in the case of other floating aquatics, accom- 
modate themselves to the depth of water in 
which the plants are growing. It grows in 
the south of Europe, and requires merely the 
protection of a frame. It is a perennial, and 
belongs to the natural order Hydrocharidaceae. 
Veronica. Two or three species are very 
pretty : — V. Beccabunga, (Brook-lime,) is a 
small perennial, with rooting stems, pro- 
cumbent at the base, and growing up from 
one to two feet high. It has elliptical, obtuse, 
opposite leaves, and short axillary spikes of 
small bright blue flowers ; blooms through 
the summer months. It is a native plant, 
frequent in ditches and water-courses. This 
plant is sometimes used as a salad. V. Ana- 
gallis (water Speedwell) is a perennial, grow- 
ing erect, with succulent stems, from one to 
two feet high : it has lance-shaped leaves, and 
produces an abundance of long spikes of small 
bluish flowers in July and August. It is a 
native plant, growing in ditches and watery 
places. V. scutellata, (marsh Speedwell,) is 
another native species, with narrower leaves 
than the last, with flesh-coloured flowers. 
They belong to the natural order Scrophu- 
lariaceae. 
Villarsia nymphoides. (Water -lily -like 
Villarsia.) — This is a very ornamental plant, 
with long stems, roundish, heart-shaped, float- 
ing leaves, and umbels of pretty yellow-fringed 
flowers, which are produced in profusion in 
June and July. It is a native plant, met with 
in rivers and streams, and is one of the most 
beautiful of our native aquatic plants. V. 
chilensis, (Chilian,) has pale yellow flowers in 
June, and requries only the protection of a 
frame. They belong to the natural order 
Nymphasaceas. 
Zizania aquatka. (Canada Rice.) — This 
is an upright-growing annual plant, six feet 
high, with long, narrow, grass-like leaves. It 
belongs to the natural order of grasses, Gra- 
niinaceaa. 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
The expressive injunction, " Let every 
thing be done decently and in order," while it 
may apply to every part of a garden, becomes 
applicable here with a tenfold increase of force, 
for this is the scene which should at all times 
be perfect ; nothing should be left undone 
which can minister to render it so, and nothing 
should be done which can in any way militate 
against such a consummation. 
Temperature, fyc. — No artificial heat will 
be required here again until next winter. 
With the advance of the season, the sun will 
have acquired increased power, and his invi- 
gorating influence will have a powerful effect 
on the interior ; so much so, that, during long 
continued intervals of successive brightness, 
it may be necessary to commence using a 
slight shading, and to have recourse to pretty 
full ventilation. Added to this, light will be 
more powerful and continuous ; and these two 
agencies, properly regulated and accompanied 
by a proper application of moisture and venti- 
lation, will produce a very marked effect on 
the growth of the plants, which should be 
encouraged by every means that may be held 
to be legitimate. The temperature may range 
without injury as high as 60 degs. or 65 degs. 
with sun heat, and at night maybe allowed to 
lull to 40 degs. Night and day, more or less 
air should now be given, especially whenever 
it is soft and mild. In fact, if this airing i.< 
attended to — giving more in bright warm 
weather, and less when gloomy and cool — the 
temperature may safely be allowed to fluctuate 
just as the sun may cause it to do so, by its 
presence or its absence. 
Watering. — At no particular time of the 
year, is the careful performance of this of more 
importance than now : most of the plants will 
be growing, the heat will be increasing na- 
turally, and, with these calls pressing on the 
plants, they would soon suffer from neglect of 
supplying them with moisture. Give the per- 
manent plants a good soaking at the roots occa- 
sionally, and also a good washing over-head 
with the syringe or engine, when they are not 
in bloom ; keep a moist atmosphere by damp- 
ing the floors, &c. Plants in pots require more 
frequent and liberal waterings than have 
hitherto been afforded them. 
Shading. — The state of the weather must 
determine this operation : if it be very bright 
and hot, a slight degree of shade — such as 
thin muslin blinds afford — will be desirable in 
the middle of the day, but not otherwise. 
Shading, when once commenced for the season, 
must be continued as often as there is occasion 
for it, until the plants have completed their 
growth, and their new shoots are becoming 
matured, which will be nearly, but not quite 
to the end of the summer. The plants are 
benefited by exposure to what sun-heat may 
