494 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
the Romans refused to receive it in tribute, and 
obliged the inhabitants to pay a double portion 
of wax in lieu of it. The variety known to 
the Greeks is thought to be that most gene- 
rally called lemon thyme, which has yellowish- 
green leaves, grows more procumbent than the 
common, and is altogether of a neater habit. I 
have proved it to be particularly well adapted for 
rock-work, and I am now trying it for edgings 
to borders instead of box-wood. In the latter 
capacity it will enable us to add at least one 
charm to our gardens, to which the Greeks 
attached the greatest importance. When 
pressed with the foot the plant yields the most 
delicious smell, and when it is set about walks, 
the air can be filled with this fragrance at the 
pleasure of any one walking throughout the 
grounds. I have not had sufficient experience 
to enable me to say in what way this plant 
should be set as an edging ; but I have adopted 
the plan of placing it on soil elevated a few 
inches, with a brick laid flat on each side. 
The thyme entirely covers the bricks, which 
serve as a guide for the hedge-shears when 
the edging is trimmed. This plant thrives 
admirably on exposed situations in the neigh- 
bourhood of the sea. 
The beauty of the Daphne Cneorum renders 
it well worthy of the attention of every one 
forming a collection of plants valued by the 
ancients. It is quite a mistake to suppose that 
this plant thrives best in peat soil, or in a mix- 
ture of peat : its favourite soil is a dry sandy 
loam exposed to the sun. 
The Ivy must not be forgotten, for it was 
one of the greatest favourites with the an- 
cients. It was sacrea to Bacchus. Acharnas 
and the adjoining country was nearly ivy- 
bound. Here this plant maintained 
" His steady triumph, laurelling himself 
With crown luxurious, till his heavy hand 
Was laid upon all living, and his reign 
Confessed where'er he came." 
Sprigs of laurel were worn by Apollo and 
by the poets, and Silenus was crowned with it. 
One of the neatest ornamental shrubs known 
to the ancients was the Rock Rose, or Cistus, 
a native of Crete, one of the islands of the 
Mediterranean. The genus contains a few 
plants which stand in the open air in this 
country, with, a very slight protection in the 
winter months. One of the hardiest is the sage- 
leaved ( C. salvicRfolius), and this was, unques- 
tionably, one of those grown throughout Greece. 
In a dry sandy soil, which had been trenched to 
the depth of two feet, it will attain to a large 
size in the course of a few years ; but it is in 
vain to attempt to get a good-sized plant to 
grow, unless taken from a pot. 
It is generally thought that the Cherry 
was introduced into Italy by Lucullus, and 
that thence it found its way into Greece. In 
the soil of the latter country, however, it found 
a place long anterior to the time of that Ro- 
man general, who was born about a century 
before Christ. It is noticed by Theophrastus, 
who wrote his treatise about three hundred 
years before the Christian era, and by a still 
older writer (Xenophanes), who was born 
about the 40th Olympiad, 620 years b. c. 
Two sorts of the Plum were known to the 
ancients (Prunus insititia and .P. domestica) ; 
but beyond the fact that great use was made 
of the fruit, little is known of them. 
The Pear was esteemed by the Greeks, and 
by them it was sent to Rome. The island of 
Ceos was reckoned the best spot for producing 
this delicious fruit, which throughout Greece 
was brought to table, floating in water. 
There is a difficulty in applying all that h:is 
been said with regard to the Apple to the 
Pyrus Mains, or common apple-tree of the 
present day. It was customary to apply the 
name to all sorts of round and ruddy fruit ; 
but there cannot be a doubt that it was known 
both to the Greeks and Romans, though it is 
difficult to say what share of their attention it 
occupied. The environs of Delphi and Corinth 
are thought to have b,een its most celebrated 
sites. According to Pliny, the Greeks called 
the apple Medica ; Seckler, on the other hand, 
thinks that this term refers to the peach. 
Such are the more striking objects whence 
emanated the odours, imagery, and music 
which we find spread over the classic pages of 
verse and prose. The Greeks and Romans placed 
much of their happiness in the contemplation of 
trees and shrubs, and the wisdom ot such a 
choice has been confirmed by good men in all 
ages. 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER. 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
The general features of treatment, in this 
house, and also more or less in the others, 
must be varied according to the character of 
the season. Sometimes we get tolerably clear 
weather, and warm air in November, and if 
this is the case, the treatment recommended 
for October may be continued, with little 
variation. On the other hand, should Novem- 
ber be cold and gloomy, the treatment must 
be varied accordingly. It is on the supposi- 
tion of the latter circumstances that we shall 
offer the annexed remarks. 
