196 ‘ 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Bletia—continued. 
in the bottom of the pot, which should be filled to within 
lin. of the top with soil. The bulbs should then be in- 
serted, and just covered. A good supply of water during 
the growing season is necessary, and only a moderate 
amount of heat. After growth has ceased, a period of 
rest is required, during which.time very little water 
should be given. Propagation is effected by divisions, 
which should be made after the plants have finished 
flowering, or previous to their starting into growth. 
B. campanulata (bell-shaped). f. deep purple, with a white 
centre, lasting a considerable time in perfection. Mexico. 
B. florida a ji. pale rose-coloured ; lip not spurred. July 
and August. 
(B. R. 1401.) 
B. gracilis (slender). fl. pale greenish-white; sepals and petals 
the different subjects. 
nearly equal, lanceolate, acuminate; lip red and yellow ; scape 
simple. J. oblong, lanceolate, plicate. 
(B. R. 1681.) . 
B. hyacinthina (Hyacinth-like).* fl. purple, racemose; lip not 
spurred, beardless ; scape about as long as the leaves. March to 
June. l. lanceolate. A. 1ft. China, 1802. This pretty species 
has proved to be quite hardy. (Garden, Nov., 1879.) 
B. patula (spreading-flowered). fl. purple, spreading ; scape tall, 
h. 1l}in. Mexico, 1850. 
ae March. J. lanceolate. h. 2ft. Hayti, 1830. (B. M., 
B. Peepher dh (Shepherd’s).* f. on branching spikes, purple. 
marked down the centre of the lip with yellow. Winter. l. long, 
lanceolate, dark green. Jamaica, 1825. (B. M. 3319.) 
B. Sherrattiana (Sherratt’s).* Jl. about a dozen on a spike, rich 
rosy purple; petals very broad, twice the breadth of the sepals ; 
lip deep pore in front, marked with white and yellow down the 
centre. ree to four-plicate. Pseudo-bulbs depressed. New 
Grenada, 1867. (B. M 
B. verecunda (modest). fi. purple; lip not spurred. January. 
h. 3ft. West Indies, Mexico, &c., 1733. (B. M. 930.) 
BLIGHIA SAPIDA. The Akee Tree. This is now 
included under the genus Cupania (which see). 
BLIGHT, or BLAST. Applied to various diseases 
of plants which are caused’ or accelerated either by the 
presence of “parasitic fungi or insects, or by atmospheric 
influence. Blight generally proves fatal to the whole or 
part of the subject attacked. 
BLIND. A term applied to plants which fail to pro- 
duce central buds. The defect is frequently noticeable in 
the Cabbage, and other plants of the Brassica tribe; and 
is, perhaps, mainly due to the attacks of insects in a very 
early stage. Great care should therefore be exercised in 
keeping the seed beds clear of insect pests, by the appli- 
cation of ashes, lime, and soot, or spent hops. 
BLOOD FLOWER. sce Hemanthus. 
BLOODROOT. See Sanguinaria canadensis. 
BLOOM. A fine powder-like substance found on 
Grapes, Cucumbers, Plums, &c., and varying in colour in 
It should be carefully protected, 
as it improves the appearance of the fruit. The term is 
also generally used—although incorrectly—as the plural of 
blossom, : ; 7 
BLOSSOM. The flower of a plant, or the essential 
organs of reproduction,..with their appendages. 
gee ae naM Pampanula rotundifolia ani 
BLUE-BOTTLE. See Centaurea Cyanus. 
BLUETS. The French name for Centaurea Cyanus. 
See also Houstonia cerulea and Vaccini 
folium. ‘ 
BLUMENBACHIA (in honour of John Frederick 
Blumenbach, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Göttingen, 
and distinguished as a comparative anatomist). Orp. 
Loasacee. Elegant branched, climbing or trailing, annual, 
biennial, or perennial herbs, generally covered with stinging 
hairs, which are very objectionable. Flowers axillary, 
solitary, bracteate, very pretty and interesting. Leaves 
> Opposite, lobed. They are of easy culture in ordinary 
garden soil. Propagated by seeds, which should be sown 
h. 2ft. West Indies, 1786, A very pretty species. | 
Blumenbachia—continued. 
in pots, in spring, and placed in a gentle heat, where they 
will germinate in about a fortnight. When the seedlings 
are large enough, and after having been previously hardened 
off, they may be planted out in their blooming quarters, or 
potted on and trained to a trellis. 
FiG. 257. BLUMENBACHIA CHUQUITENSIS. 
B. chuquitensis (Chuquitan).* fl. solitary, axillary, with five to _ 
~ ten boat-shaped red petals, which are yellow within. September. 
l. oblong-lanceolate, pinnate; segments pinnatifidly lobed. Peru, 
1863. Half-hardy climbing perennial. See Fig. 257. (B. M. 6143.) 
B. contorta (twisted).* fl. orange-red, with cup-shaped green 
scales within. July. J. oblong-ovate, pinnatifid; lobes incisely 
toothed. Peru. 
a wall, out of doors, during the summer. (B. M. 6154.) 
Fic. 258. FLOWER OF BLUMENBACHIA CORONATA, 
B. coronata (crowned).* fl. of pure glossy whiteness, quad- 
rangular, crown-shaped, 2in. in diameter each way. 
narrow, bipinnatifid, cut into small segments, A. 1}ft. 
1872. This is an elegant dwarf, tufted, erect biennial, with the 
pure white blooms imbedded in the metallic lustrous foliage. SYN- 
Caiophora coronata. See Fig. 258. wai se bi 
insignis (remarkable).* f. with w petals | reddish- 
pe ales axillary, on long peduncles, about lin. in diameter. 
Greenhouse climber, but may be grown against ~~ 
