Itay 13, 1875. ] 



JOUENAL OP H0BTI0OLTDR3 AND COTTAaB QAll&fiNEB. 



S6& 



bloBBome of the common Aucuba. 

 circnmBtance 7— John B. Boyd. 

 [We never heard of a eimilar instance, 



Ib not this a very nnusual 



Eds.] 



FLOWEES FOB OUR BOBDEES.- No. 40. 



BRAVOA GEMIS'IFLORA.— TwiK-FLOWERED BsivoA. 



The Bravoa geminiflora is a half-hardy plant, producing a 

 tnnicated bulb, about the size of a moderately large Hyacinth 

 root, but more elongated. From this bulb proceed three to 

 four pointed leaves, 18 to 20 inches or more long, and from 

 IJ to 2 inches broad ; they are keeled at the back, and usually 

 quite erect. The scape or flower-stem springs directly from 

 the bulb, and is not uncommonly from 3 to 4 feet high, of a 

 round tapering form, and bearing several pointed half-sheath- 

 ing bracts arranged alternately at distances of 5 or 6 inches 

 from each other. 



rig. SD. — Bravoa geminiflora. 



The raceme of flowers terminates the stem, and consists of 

 about sixteen pairs of blossoms, at the base of each of which is 

 a small trifid bract ; in the early stages of their growth they 

 are quite erect, and pressed close to the scape, but as they ex- 

 pand the tube of the flower becomes gradually curved out- 

 wards, until at length its mouth points downwards. Each 

 flower is about 1 inch or IJ inch long, of a cylindrical form, 

 and divided at its mouth into six short, rounded lobes, which, 

 ' when the flower is fully developed, are slightly spreading; at 

 this period their tint is a delicate salmon or flesh-colour, 

 tinged with green at the base, where the perianth coheres with 

 the Beed-vessel. 



The Bravoa may be cultivated either as a window bulb or in 

 the open border, where it succeeds perfectly in a warm aspect 

 and suitable soil. The only objection to its cultivation in the 

 window is its liabiUty to become " drawn " from deficiency of 

 light and air; but, in all other points, no plant can be more 

 manageable. It should be potted in a good friable loam, with 

 which a little silver sand should be mingled, unless the soU 

 contains naturally a fair proportion of sihcious matter. This 

 is necessary to ensure the requisite porosity ; but, unless a 

 considerable proportion of good loam is also present, the 

 growth of the plant will be weak. The bulb should be planted 

 with its neck level with the surface of the soil, in a 4 or o-iuch 

 pot, which will be found amply sufficient, except for the largest 

 bulbs. During the winter months, when the plant is dormant. 



the soil may be kept nearly dry, but when in activity it re- 

 quires to be freely watered. It usually commences its growth 

 about the end of April or beginning of May ; and, in a warm 

 window, will make rapid progress, producing its flowers about 

 the end of July. After the blosBoms have faded the pot 

 should be placed out of doors in a sunny situation to ripen the 

 bulb, and when the foliage has decayed it may be returned to 

 its winter quarters, which may be any airy place inacccBsible 

 to frost. 



In the open ground its treatment may be inferred from what 

 we have just stated. If planted out in April, while dormant, 

 it should be covered with a hand-glass to protect it from spring 

 frosts ; if kept on the window or in a cold frame until the 

 middle of May it may then be plunged into the borders with- 

 out this precaution. In this situation its height will be less 

 than under glass, and the colour of the flowers deepen to red. 

 It is easily increased by offsets, which may be separated every 

 second or third year, and also by seeds, which may be ripened 

 in the greenhouse or window if the plant is grown on after 

 flowering. 



The Bravoa geminiflora is a native of Mexico. Its name 

 was conferred in honour of the Mexican botanist, Bravo. — 

 (jr. Thompsoti's English Floircr Garden.) 



THE THAMES EMBANKMENT. 

 Without further ceremony than a walk round by the mem- 

 bers of the Board of Works another portion of garden en- 

 closure was on Saturday last declared by Mr. W. H.Smith, M. P., 

 to be open to the public. The new garden is immediately west 

 of the Charing Cross railway station, and is a little over two 

 acres in extent. It is laid out artistically, yet with special 

 regard to the purpose of free and easy promenade. The walks 

 are ample, soundly made of asphalte loosely surfaced with 

 light gravel, and are edged with Ivy. A main walk is taken 

 round the enclosure in a serpentine manner, with curved 

 cross walks enclosing shrubberies, lawns, and flower beds, the 

 parts being agreeably proportioned. There are forty-eight 

 flower beds, which will require about fourteen thousand plants. 

 The trees comprise Lombardy Poplars, Planes, and weeping 

 trees, with shrubs which experience has proved suited to the 

 site. The borders at the entrance are brightened by Inter- 

 mediate Stocks. The garden is from the design of Mr. 

 Vulliamy, and executed by Mr. Meston. It is well conceived 

 and carried out, and likely to be the most artistic portion of 

 the Embankment. The lawns and shrubs on the established 

 portions are in excellent order ; the beds are gay with Tulips, 

 the whole reflecting credit on Mr. Sinclair's superintendence. 



IN SEAECH OF SPEING. 



I DO not know what sort of weather you are having in London, 

 but here we have had nothing but a succession of cold easterly 

 winds. I never saw vegetation so backward : no trees are ia 

 leaf, the grass is green but does not grow at all, and my Eosea 

 have hardly began to move. We are within two months of the 

 Palace Show, and the greater portion of my maiden Briars 

 have not started. The farmers round here are driven frantic ; 

 they have no hay left, and they cannot afford to buy any at 

 £8 a ton, so the stock are grazing on the fields which should 

 be laid up for mowing. In fact, I never saw things look more 

 serious than they do now, for if we have another dry summer, 

 we, who live in this wretchedly poor dry soil in Dorset, will 

 have no hay for next winter. 



This being our state here, I thought I should like to go into 

 Cornwall, to the most southern and western points of England, 

 and see if I could find signs of spring there, and so, having 

 arranged my duty for one Sunday, I set off the first day for 

 Plymouth. Here I found it colder than at Monkton Wyld, 

 and the country equally backward. Mount Edgecumbe looked 

 as if we were in midwinter, the Hoe was as desolate as Salis- 

 bury Plain — the very water of the Sound was of a cold grey 

 colour instead of the lovely silvery-green which one is accus- 

 tomed to see. I went from Plymouth to Falmouth by the 

 Irish steamer, thinking I should find the warmest town in 

 England an exception to the general rule. But never was I 

 more mistaken, and never was I colder than at Falmouth. 

 I went to look for the Lemon trees which grow out of doors, 

 and I found one which was just beginning to start into hfe. 

 The gardener said they had never known such a winter, and 

 it was a perfect marvel that the plant had survived. I sailed 

 up the lovely Truro river, past Lord Falmouth's seat, through 



