1031
i f e - i
the front to the back, or from the lowest to the highest part of the stage, as well to give them every possible
advantage as to light, as to present th e greatest surface to the eye of tho spectator. It is not
desirable, however, to dress them so regularly, as that th e general slope of verdure shall appear as li
shorn or mown, for that both deprives th e sides of tho plants of a considerable portion of light and air,
and the eye of variety of form, and light and sh ad e ; it will have a much better effect if somewhat irre-
gular, and if here and there a distini;g luisihseld.. .i.n...d..i.v...i.d..u...a..l appear above the rest as a standard.
5157. I n a r r a n g in g b y method, o r o o iamcauy , eitner me jAiiiuicau ur me i>iu.ui<u ejciosiueauuu may uu
adopted ; the latter is unquestionably preferable, as exhibiting a m ore perfect relationship ; and it may
be considered as represented by th e same lines as those delineating th e mode of grouping by colours
( f ig . 885.). Where the Linnæan method is adopted, the classes may either be grouped in irregular
Tbalamiflò. sect. 1 . 1 Thalam. Beet. 2.1 Thalamiflòrte, sect. 3. | Calyciflôroe. | CorolliÛôrîE. I Monoch. & Phaiicro.
roundish masses ; or, as the tallest trees and lowest herbs arc often placed in the same class, it will
answer better to dispose each class and its orders in irregular strips (fig . 886.),—Monándria, Diándria,
Triándria, Tetrandria, Pentándria, &c.,—from the lowest to th e highest part of the stage, by which tho
dwarf plants of each class may be placed in front, and the taller farthest back.
M.D. T. Tot. P e n tán d ria. lie s . II.O.En . D. Dod. Icos. Poly. Did. T e t Mo. Dia. Polyad. Sti, Gy. Mo. Di. Po. Cry.
e botanic a r ra n g em en ts , it has been already observed, are only adapted for extensive collec-
apacious hothouses ; on a smaller scale the mingled method, or that by grouping, will be most
lusly adopted. In the case of greenhouses attached to living-rooms, and where there are re-
6158. T h e b
tions and capacious h .
advantageously a
serve-houses to keep up a supply, only such plants as a 1 bloom - ...............— should ------------------- be introduced,---------------
and there tho
method by grouping the colours may be adopted with great effect. B u t whatever be th e sizeo f the house,
o r even the extent of a bed, or shell, or any part of them, never let the plants be placed there in th e p resent
indiscriminate mode. In this, no regard is paid to any thing but h e ig h t; or if any fa rther object
is taken into consideration, it is to mix the kinds as much as possible, with a view, as is alleged, to produce
variety. But the effect of this mixture, whether on a large or small scale, instead of variety, is
sameness or monotony, which lessens interest, and finally produces indifference in the .spectator. It is
true, there is as great a degree of sameness in the mingled m ode; but then it is the sameness o fa formal and
an a v ow ^ regularity ; whereas, th e sameness resulting from the common mode of m ixture, is the sameness
of altectation,—a sameness resulting from an abortive attempt at something not attained. The one
mode may be compared to the geometrical manner of laying out grounds, and the other to the mode by
clumps and belts : both are alike artificial ; but the former is avowedly so, and therefore has attained its
end, while the latter affects to be un imitation of nature, and therefore disappoints. A safe rule for every
gafoener to adopt, whether in setting pots of plants on a shelf or a stage, however small either may be,
¿ d however limited the collection is, to keep each genus together, placing the tallest plants farthest
from the eye. Sometimes this will form a thin, straggling group from the front of the shelf or sta^e to
the back ( fig . 887. Pelargònium, Gerànium, and Eròdium), and a t other times, a sub-orbiculate group
887
P e la rg o n ium ^
\ Cassia
A Camellia
/
\ M a lva \ G e ra n ium , Meti-oside'ros f \ L a u r u s
u ò s a
J and
^ -----------^ / 0/C'O y /
y Iris
y
E r o d ium B á n /iSia
1 0.) L ac k cnuU-i
\ I Babiàna
N. \
1 J. A ■■ J - V- - u—OT, -— —„ LVOT u. OT/„vOTv L'OTaoBiay. Aiiis JS a very simple rule, easily recollected
and applied, and every master and head gardener who approves of it, ought to insist on ira hoinY
¿ r n e d into execution in every case, whether in the open air or in hotliouses, where pots of nlants are to
be set down together ; unless, indeed, it should, in th e case of diseased plants, intl^rfere wit™7ufture
T h e effect ol this mode may bo very well estimated by inspecting the hothonses, or open air collec tion
o f pots m some of the nurseries, and more particnlarly in Messrs. Loddiges's, ih e r e this a r r a i S e n t
both in the extensive greenhouse,s and beds of pots of alpines and other herbaceous plants, is a d o S T n '
iflfl etlZie lb otanic hothouses a t Kew. arrangement has lately been adopted by S ir 'w . J . &ooker
5159 The following directions re spe c ting the p a r tic u la r p la n t habitations o f flo ricu ltu re are rhioHv
taken from Sweet’s Bota n ica l CuUivator, and Cushing’s E xo tic Gardene r J « " a r e cniciiy
5160. Fnwzc. Very little management is requisite for this department, as the plants kept in cold frames
¿ e 80 hardy, that for s e v ^ or nine m onths of the year the sashes do not require to be put Sn All th /t
IS requisite is to e x p o ^ th e plants to the air the whole of every day during winter whin th e weather is
open, by drawing off th e lig h ts ; to attend to watering them moderately, during w inter in mild weather in
th e morning after sunrise, and in ¿m in e r in the evening. Twice a y lar, in spring and in a u t u S eadi
p lant should be examined, and such changes made m the soil, size of the pot, head of the plant roots ¿kc
as the experience ot th eg a rd ^ ie r, the appearance of the plant, or the object desired bycdltivating it ma»
dictate. At th e same time, this is not to be considered as a substitute for daily looking over these nlants-
and performing whatyver operations may be necessary for their welfare. The Voutine culture of weeding
staking, picking off decayed flowers, leaves, &c., need not be insisted on : and th e culture of nartirol-T,-
species or even tribes cannot here be entered into. parucuiai
. : Greenhouse. The plants of this department, Sweet observes, only require protection from frost
in winter. The more air they have given them when not frosty, the more healthy they will be On a
fine morning the sooner air is admitted the b e tte r; but it is best to shut up pretty early in the afternoon
particularly i it appears likely to be a cold night. No fire is required. exYept frost is expected S tl e
mght, or the house should be damp with continued wet weather ; then a little fire is requi.site to dry the
house, as plants
more liable to be injured by damp than by cold. The plants should be looked over
most days to see if
require water, which must only be given when quite dry, in the winter season •
mg is the best time for watering them ; for, if watered in the
Y raould IS green with moss, &c., the top should be taken off, and the s u rfa 4
moved with a flat stick, but not deen enough to disturb the roots ; if a little fresh mould is wantin«- on
¿ y qf them. I t should bo added. Always be careful to put the same kind of soil they are already grown
in ; tor a difierent kind put on injures plants more than some cultivators are aware of J S '
5162. When the w eathe r b egins to g e l to a rm in sp r in g , some air should be given all night, to harden tbe
plants before they are set o u t ; a little must be given at first, and continue to increase it everv n ifo t till
they have lull air, if the weather will allow of it. The time of sotting them out in the open air dt-pends
entirely on the weufoer. Sometimes they may be put out with safety by the middle of Mav, in other
¿a so n s not till the latter end; but they had better stay in a little too long than be put out too soon
vf / setting them out. when as sheltered a situation as possible
s ^ u l d be chosen for them. Ih o best time for shifting them into fresh pots is early in snrine- some
shift them before they are set out, and let them make fresh roots while in the greenhouse which is -i
very good plan, particularly for young or tender plants. If any plants are too tall, and want cutting
back, it should be ¿m e early in spring, as soon as they begin to grow ; then they have time to recover
themselves, and make good bushy plants by autumn. cLurccuvcr
5163. Cuttings require to be put in a t various seasons, and in different situations. From Christmas to
May may be considered the best time for cuttings in g enorai; but some will require to be nut in at
various seasons throughout the year, according to the state of the shoots. The best time for watering
g re e n ^ iise plants m summer is a s.late as possible in the afternoon, then they have all the night to
refrerii thcni. If watered in the morning of a warm day, they will dry again almost immediately.
1 lants should not remain out too long in autumn, as they are liable to get too much wet, and the
wrrms get 111 th e pots. The middle of September should be the latest, but give them full air as long
as the weather will permit. (B o t. Cultivator, p . 1 2 1 .)
5164. Stove. The management of stove plants, according to the same author, whose experience and
success are exceeded by none in the cultivation of exotics, depends a great deal on the kind of house in
which they are grown ; but there is little difficulty in growing them well, if the house can be kept up to a
proper heat, mid a sufficient quantity of air can be given when required. Close glazing is to be preferred •
e ither the lights should be leaded, or the laps stopped with putty, so that a sufficient quantity of air may
be always given, and the house kept to a more regular heat. When the laps of the glass are left open a
great deal qf air is admitted, which is often injurious, particularly on a cold windy night. Tlie thermometer
shouldi,never be allowed to be below 60° of F ahrenheit’s sca le; if it gets above 70° on a fine dav -i
little air may be given, which should be taken away earlv, and the house shut up warm ; it then roquiVcs
3 U 4