160 
- 
Bartonia—continued. ~ 
and, when the seedling? are Mfioientiy 
be potted singly into Small, well-drain 
should: 
large, y"s 
winter, 
‘pots. ™ 
they should be placed on a dry shelf ina greenhouse or: 
frame. B. aurea is one of the brightest of hardy annuals, 
and may be sowngeither ina a frame, or in the open border 
in April. ’ 2h ae hs 
B. albescens (whitish).* jl., petals teri, pale yellow, disposed in 
a leafy panicle. July. J. sinuateély toothed. Stem with a white 
shining epidermis. A. Tit, to 4it. Chili, 1831. Annual or bi- 
ennial. (S. B. F. Œ: ii., 1 ‘ * 
B. aurea (golden).* fl. two or three. gether, terminal, bright 
olden yellow, as large as a half ; petals five. June, 
lit. calif ornia, 1834. Annual. See Fig. 207. (B. M. 3649.) 
B. nuda (naked) and B. orna orned) are two very pretty 
white-flowered biennial species. Wi. 2ft. Missouri, 1811, i 
BARYOS See Barosma. n 
BASAL, o Situated at the base of any- 
thing; asthe embryo, when situated at the bottom of the 
seed. 
BASELLA (its Malabar name). Malabar Nightshade, 
ORD. Basellacee. Annual or biennial stove trailers, with 
white pinkish flowers, of no great horticultural value. 
In India, and elsewhere throughout the tropics, some of 
the species are cultivated as pot herbs, and are used as a 
substitute for Spinach. 
B. alba (white).* white. August. l heart-sha inted, 
h. 8in. India, iier this laut; either ghen. allowed to tall 
in festoons from the roof of a warm h , oF t as a 
basket plant, forms an elegant object when in flower. 
BASELLACEZH. A series of usually herbaceous 
climbers, and considered a tribe of Chenopodiacee. 
BASIL, SWEET (Ocymum basilicum). This is a 
tender annual from India, and must be raised in gentle 
heat. The foliage is somewhat largely used for flavouring 
purposes. Seeds should be sown in April, the seedlings 
pricked out into boxes to strengthen, and finally planted 
out about 8in. asunder, in beds of light rich soil, in June, 
being well watered until fully established. As soon as they 
bloom, they should be cut down to within a few inches of 
the ground, and the portions cut off should be tied up in 
small bunches and dried in the shade for winter use. 
Some of the plants can be lifted in September, potted up, 
and placed in a warm greenhouse for the winter, when 
the fresh green leaves will be found useful. Bush 
Basil (Ocymum minimum) is a dwarfer plant, but may be 
treated in the same way. Wild Basil is botanically known 
as Calamintha Clinopedium. 
BASIL-THYME. See Calamintha Acinos. 
; BASI-NERVED. When the nerves of a leaf spring 
_ from the base. 
- BASING-UP. The raising of a small bank of earth 
~ entirely round a plant, so as to retain water immediately 
_ about the root. The term is sometimes used to signify 
Eart) or , which see, 
BASKETS. Few objects contribute more to the adorn- 
ment of a window, or E decoration of the dining-room, 
_ Grawing-room, or glass-house, than Hanging Baskets, taste- 
fully filled with handsome foliaged and flowering plants. 
Baskets are made in different forms and of various materials, 
such as wire, terra-cotta, wood, and cork. The Wire Baskets 
have a very light and elegant appearan 
thick layer of moss, or Selaginella Kraussia 
which a layer of coarse sacking must be placed, eve 
the soil from working through, Terra-cotta Baskets aro 
„very pretty, and are extensively employed in domestic 
rooms, but they should always have one or more holes at 
the bottom, to facilitate drainage. Rustic Baskets, of cork 
or wood, are also very suitable for floral arrangements ; 
those composed of teak-wood are very generally used for 
orchids. The compost should be prepared according to the 
requirements of the plant or plants intended to be grown, 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Baskets — continued. 
in this work. The soil should not be allowed to get dry; 
in thé event of this happening, however, a thorough soaking 
by immersion must be given, As a rule, attention should 
be given in the matter of watering every other day, and 
light Syringing every morning and evening during the 
spring and summer months will be most beneficial. The 
Baskets should be examined every week, all dead or decay- 
ing leaves being removed, and any insects, which are so 
likely to get a foothold, destroyed. In arranging the sub- 
jects, the centre plant should be the tallest, the next outer 
ones shorter, and the marginal ones of a trailing or drooping 
habit, so that the whole may present a symmetrical, and at 
the same time a natural, appearance. Wickerwork Baskets 
are used for carrying or transferring plants, and are generally 
made 18in. wide by 20in. deep; they are extremely useful, 
and should be in every garden. Split wood and withes are 
largely employed in making Baskets. The Planter’s Basket, 
described by Loudon as a flat, rectangular utensil of wicker- 
work or boards, partitioned into three or more parts, for the 
purpose of carrying with the gardener when about to plant 
or remove plants, is now, unfortunately, almost obsolete. 
One division is for the plants, another for those taken up, 
and a third for the tools to be made use of, and for any 
decayed parts of plants, stones, weeds, or other refuse which 
may be collected. By tising this Basket, order, accuracy, 
and neatness are secured. The Sussex “Truck” Baskets, 
made of willow-wood, are very useful, being both light and 
durable. See also Measures. 
BASSIA (named after Ferdinando Bassi, Curator of the 
Botanic Garden at Bologna). ORD. Sapotacew. Handsome 
lofty-growing lactescent stove trees, with axillary, solitary, 
or flowers, and quite entire, smooth, coriaceous 
leaves. They require stove heat, and a compost of peat and 
loam. taken from ripened wood, strike readily in 
sand, under a hand glass, in a strong moist heat. piao 
B. butyracea (buttery). The Indian Butter Tree, , pedice Is 
d as well as the calyces, woolly. i above, Sie oii 
rey gine are, 
to 9in. long, and gin. to 5in. broad, tomentose 
70ft. Nepaul, 1823. (B. F. F. 36.) 
to 
B. latifolia (broad-leaved). The Mahwah Tree of Ben A. 
corolla thick and fleshy ; pedicels drooping, terminal. Lube r 
or elliptic, smooth above, whitish beneath, 4in. to 8in. long, an 
2in. to 4in. broad. h. 50ft. India, 1799, (B. F.S. 41.) 
B. 
lia (long-leaved). jl., pedicels axillary, drooping, crowded 
round the ends of the branchlets. l. ovate-lanceolate, ope 
mate at the tops of the branches, 6in, long, deciduous, 50ft. 
Malabar, 1811. (B. F., S. 42.) 
BASS or BAST MATS. These are prepared, chiefly 
in Russia, from the inner bark of various Limes (Tilia), and _ 
are very largely used in this country by nurserymen for — 
packing purposes, They are also extensively employed as 
coverings, being excellent preventatives of the effects of 
frost. They are beneficial as a covering for beds of early — iii 
vegetables, to prevent radiation during the night. 
tying purposes they are now greatly supers Raffia 
Grass. Archangel Mats are larger, and of Detter iy 
than the St. Petersburgh. Dunnage Mats are heavy, an 
generally used for covering, as they are m cheaper. 
BASTARD ACACIA. See Robinia Pseudo-acacia. 
BASTARD BALM. See Melittis. saad 
BASTARD BOX. See Polygala chamebuxus. 
BASTA CABBAGE-TREE. 5e Geoffroya. 
ARD CHERRY. See Cerasus. Pseudo- 
Cinnamomum 
BASTARD CINNAMON. See 
