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The Coimtry Gentleman's Magazine 



not kept quite dry, or the probability is that 

 death will ensue, and just when the amateur 

 expects to see them start into fresh growth. 



B. Sapeyroiizii. — An old favourite of mine, 

 and certainly one of the most beautiful 

 winter blooming kinds. It is an erect 

 growing species, producing erect, branching, 

 compact panicles of soft flesh-coloured 

 flowers, and it continues in perfection for 

 several months. It is admirably adapted for 

 indoor decoration in winter. 



B. ChelsoJiii. — This plant is another of the 

 splendid hybrids for which we are indebted 

 to the Messrs Veitch & Sons, being the 

 result of a cross between B. Boliviensis and 

 B. Sedenii (itself a hybrid). It is of free 

 growth, the leaves being oblique ovate- 

 lanceolate, and dark green in colour, flowers 

 large, drooping, rich orange suffused with 

 deep red. Independent of its rich colour, its 

 value is considerably enhanced from its con- 

 tinuing to bloom all through the dreary 

 winter months. (See fig. 2, page 301.) 



B. Pearcei. — This is a tuberous-rooted 

 species, introduced and named after my un- 

 fortunate friend Pearce, who was one of the 

 most indefatigable collectors who ever left 

 these shores. The habit is dwarf; leaves on 

 the upper side dark velvety green with 

 lighter veins, whilst below they are pinkish 

 red, mottled with light green ; flowers large, 

 bright yellow. It is a most desirable plant. 



B. phyllomanica. — A stout, erect-growing 

 plant, with large unequally cordate ovate 

 subpellate dark-green leaves, fringed at the 

 margins with stiff hairs ; the stem and 

 branches are clothed with little leaves 3 

 flowers largC;, produced in drooping racemes, 

 white suffused with pink. Blooming as it 

 does all through the winter and spring, it 

 forms a charming object for the decoration of 

 the drawing-room. 



B. semperflorens. — This is a dwarf, free 

 blooming and very handsome plant, suitable 

 alike for the decoration of a lady's boudoir 

 or the dinner table. The leaves are some- 

 what ovate, serrate at the edges, and bright 

 shining green ; flowers large, white, and pro- 

 duced from Januaiy to May. 



B, longipila. — A somewhat strong grow- 



ing plant; the leaves are large, deeply 

 laciniated, dark green blotched with black ; 

 the racemes are much branched and pro- 

 fusely laden with large pink flowers, which 

 are produced all through the winter and 

 spring. 



B. fuchsioides. — Amongst all the members 

 of this family that I know, none can surpass 

 this species for its chaste beaut3^ Grown 

 into small specimens, it is impossible to 

 imagine or produce anything more elegant 

 for the adornment of the dinner-table. If 

 not required for indoor decoration, when 

 grown into large specimens it is equally 

 beautiful, and if trained up a pillar or rafter 

 in the plant stove, it is really lovely. The 

 leaves are smafl, oblique, and dark green. 

 The flowers are produced in abundance, and 

 are of a vivid scarlet, and drooping. In my 

 opinion no collection of plants, however 

 small, should lack this gem, and no lady 

 should be without it in the drawing-room. 



B. majikata. — In this plant we have orna- 

 mental foliage combined with large flowers. 

 The leaves are large, oblique, and light green, 

 the footstalks being ornamented with bright 

 red frill-like fringes. The flower spike is 

 erect and much branched, whilst its numerous 

 flowers are of a delicate soft pink. It blooms 

 from January to May. 



B. dipetala. — A superb plant, flowering the 

 whole of the winter and spring. It is erect 

 in habit, with oblique cordate acuminate 

 leaves, which are serrate at the edges and 

 dark green. The panicles are drooping, bear- 

 ing a profusion of soft rose-coloured blooms. 



B. Sedenii. — Another of the Chelsea hy- 

 brids, having B. Boliviensis for one parent, 

 and, like it, having tuberous roots. It is 

 remarkably free both in flower and growth, 

 bearing, even on small plants, a profusion of 

 its large rich magenta-coloured flowers, and 

 it succeeds in quite greenhouse temperature. 

 B. icetevirens. — An evergreen kind, with 

 large peltate dark green leaves. The 

 flowers are large, and produced in great 

 abundance; pure white, delicately suffused 

 with rosy-pink. It blooms from January to 

 ]\Iay, and is admirably adapted for the deco- 

 ration of apartments. 



