162 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW 
South African arctotis, the beautiful Chilian schizanthus. Then there 
are the now favourite, brilliantly coloured cannas, and the blue and 
white Senecio Heritieri. 
During the sultry days of July, August, and perhaps September, 
the attractions of the open air are more insistent than those of any 
greenhouse. Yet this Conservatory, with its shade and 
y copious ventilation, is one of the pleasantest glass- 
p ' houses in Kew, and it is still regularly filled with flowers. 
Now is the time of the Malmaison carnations, fuchsias, the blue and 
white Campanula pyramidalis and other bell-flowers, and several 
sorts of begonia. Less commonly known, but strikingly attractive, 
are Jacobinia magnifica and the scarlet-flowered Clerodendron fallax. 
At this period, too, the climbers on the roof add much to the beauty 
of the house. Chief among them are the fuchsias, the Etruscan honey- 
suckle, the blue Lantana salvifolia, abutilons, and the curious rhodo- 
chiton. Growing in baskets suspended over the paths are the old- 
fashioned achimenes, glowing masses of mauve and purple, and the 
remarkable “glory pea ” of Australia — Clianthus Dampieri. 
For quite half of the last quarter of the year the most important 
place in this house, as in nearly all others of a similar character, is 
filled by the chrysanthemum. But supplementing it 
we have the scarlet Salvia spiendens, the blue Salvia 
azurea, several species of South African heaths, and 
begonia “ Gloire de Lorraine.” All these plants do not constitute a 
tithe of those used in this house, but they are some of the more im- 
portant ones. The system of arrangement adopted here is to set out 
the plants as much as possible in groups. Thus, from half-a-dozen 
to a score will form a group, sometimes by themselves, but usually 
in association with others whose colour of flower or grace of foliage 
is calculated to emphasise and enhance their beauty. The general 
idea kept in view is to provide a succession of varied and beautiful 
effects rather than a continuous medley all round the stages. 
The coolest compartment of the T-Range (No. 7) is given up 
to a class of plants similar in character to some of those which in 
their season help to furnish the Conservatory. Here 
are cultivated the heaths from the Cape of Good Hope, 
and the mesembryanthemums and pelargoniums from the same 
region. The first and last have, in their time, held an important 
place in gardens, but the heaths have fallen on evil times. They 
End of the 
Year. 
Cape House. 
