January 30. THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 333 
equalised in temperature, because, as heat was radiated 
from the glass to the under side of the cover, it would 
bo radiated back again to the glass; and the air 
above confined in and between the tubes of straw, 
prevented the heat radiated to the under side being 
conducted to the upper side, so as to effect any 
melting of tho snow there. In fact, though the mats 
were found wot the covers were dry. Under such a 
circumstance, less heat escaped into the air from the 
glass than if it had been covered witli a solid wall of 
brick. Tho most inexperienced will now see, that what 
will keep heat in will keep cold out; aud that, as a 
general rule, they will best gain their object in protect¬ 
ing their plants in glass-houses, by enclosing a body of 
air between the glass and the protecting medium. Much 
will also depend on keeping the glass dry; and 1 have 
often thought, that if such straw covers were lined on 
the upper side with a strong water-proofed substance, 
they would answer as well, though not be so lasting, as 
wooden-shutters, which, I have no doubt, will not only 
be found the neatost, but the cheapest mode of protect¬ 
ing such structures, when even ten years, not to say 
double that time, is taken into consideration. 
PROPAGATING. 
Many will now be thinking, “ How am I to get a 
sufficiency for a bed out of that solitary plant that stauds 
there?” This received great attention last year. Unlike 
autumn propagating, almost everything, whether for tho 
greenhouse or the tiower-garden, will delight in a help 
from extra heat at this season of the year. When so 
much has to be made of one or two plants, it will bo 
necessary to commence propagating early, as several 
toppings of cuttings will have to be obtained. Where no 
such quantity from a small beginning has to be procured, 
tho end of February, or the beginning of March, will be 
timo enough. Whenever resolved upon, nothing is so 
sure to promote success as a sweet bottom-heat from 
dung aud leaves of about 75°, and a top-heat of from 
50° to G0°, hardening the young plants off as soon as 
struck. One reason why I recommond -deferring to 
March is, that the plants are not so apt to be injured by 
being improperly used as those struck earlier, and room 
for them is easier obtained. R. Fish. 
MESSRS. ARTHUR HENDERSON AND CO.’S 
NURSERY, 
Pine-Apple-Place, Edgeware Road, London. 
I had occasion to visit this far-famed Nursery a few 
days ago, aud saw so many interesting plants, that I 
was, in a manner, compelled to take notes, and, as the 
poet Burns says, “ i’faith I’ll prent them,” for the benefit 
of that large class, “ our readers.” 
The Show Houso is tho first you enter, aud it was as 
gay as you can imagine, with Chinese Primulas, Jasmi- 
num nudijlormn, an excellent winter-blooming plant, 
Cyclamen coum, lihodora Canadensis, Linum trigynum, 
forced Narcissus, forced Pyrus japonica, Epacris of 
sorts, aud various early-blooming lleaths, and a few late- 
blooming Chrysanthemums, all of the dwarf or Pompone 
varieties. These Pompones are the first to come into 
bloom, aud the last to go out. Camellias look promisingly 
full of buds; many of them just showing colour. Many 
of our correspondents, who have lately complained of 
their Camellia-buds dropping, would learn a lesson by 
visiting this place. 
In a long span-roofed house, I noted a fine stock of 
dwarf, bushy, New Holland plants, just the right size to 
commence to form specimens. 
In the Stove, the following plants were in flower. 
Tillandsia amama, a dwarf Pine-apple-lookiug plant, with 
bluo, yellow, and scarlet flowers. Bilheryia Morelliana, 
another interesting plant belonging to tho samo tribe, 
with green foliage, and white, mealy bands across each 
leaf. Tho flowers are produced on a drooping raceme, 
and are of a brilliant purple, white, and crimson colour. 
Aplielandra squarrosa, a rather new plant, producing 
a spike of yellow, fleshy flowers, in a squarrose style. 
This is a good addition to our winter-flowering stove- 
plants. Bilheryia miniata, a very dwarf species, with 
several spikes of scarlet flowers. Ganna Warsewicsii, a 
new and very ornamental specios, with spikes of rich 
crimson flowers, which are produced at least nine 
months in the year. Tho beauty of this plaut is greatly 
enhanced by its purplish-red stems, ribs of each leaf, 
aud edges of the same. It is an ornamental plant of 
itself, without bloom. Most of the fine-l'oliaged plants 
have but poor flowers; but this is a beautiful exception. 
Messrs. Henderson possess a large collection of 
exotic Ferns, which are very well grown. Ono was 
pointed out to me as new; it was named Platylorna 
Broivnii. It is, I suspect, a New Zealand Fern. It is 
bipinnate, with rather large, conspicuous pinmo, edged 
broadly with a continuous row of seed-vessels. Of it 
I may say, it is a truly desirable species, and ought to be 
in every collection. I expect it will be found hardy 
enough for the greenhouse. 
On a wall, at tho outside of this Fern-house, there is a 
large, splendid plant of the Jasminum nudiflorum com¬ 
pletely covered with its yellow, shining blossoms; but 
I fear these sharp, north, frosty winds that are now 
blowing will spoil its beauty. 
In a span-roofed Propagating-house, I was shown 
some new, highly-interesting plants, especially new 
Coniferffi. Ono looked very much like a tree Lycopo¬ 
dium ; it was named Arthrotaxus selaginellioides. if tiiis 
proves as hard as its name, it will bo a great acqui¬ 
sition ; it is the most distinct plant of the tribo L ever 
saw. Also a Conifer, named Chamacypanissias glauca, 
from tho hills of India. This is in the way of Cupressus 
lorulosa, but much stronger in all its parts. It is 
doubtful whether this will be hardy. 
In the Orchid-house, which is a new one since I was 
at Pine-Apple Place, there were not many blooms. The 
fine, winter-flowering Oncidium ornytliorynchum had 
several spikes of its sweetly-scented blossoms; aud I 
noted also auother Oncidium, name unknown, in bloom, 
which I strongly suspect will prove to be Oncidium 
Qaleotii. The rose-tipped Sobralia decora had several 
blossoms expanded. This species, though each in¬ 
dividual flower only lasts a day or two, yet produces so 
many in succession that it is almost always in flower. 
The Orchids generally, I am happy to say, are looking 
remarkably healthy, especially the Indian species and 
the genus Cattleya. Of the latter genus, I noticed 
several lately imported that are strange to me. 
At the further end of this house there is a group of stove 
shrubs, remarkable for their beautiful foliage, namely, 
the new and rare Dammara Broivnii, from the South 
Sea Islands; also a fine specimen of the large Fern-like- 
leaved Jacaranda Jilieifolia, aud the llhopalia magnifica. 
This is a large house, and the plants in it are arranged 
in groups of genera, which is a useful arrangement, 
showing the natural affiuities of the different species. 
Here and there a plant is placed in flower to give a 
cheerful aspect to the otherwise strange appearance of 
the Orchid tribo. One plant, the new Heheclinium 
aurantiacum, had quite a guy appoarauce, with its 
golden-hued blossoms. I noticed two plants of the rare 
Imatophyllum miniatum, showing a head of flowers each. 
Our readers will remember Mr. Beaton’s florid descrip¬ 
tion of this new and rare plant, as exhibited by the 
Messrs. Lee, in Regent Street, some twelve-months ago. 
From this house I wended my way to the Greenhouse 
Specimen Plant - house. Hero are numerous New 
