108 NAT. ORDER. LEGUMINOS^. 



two varieties, all of which are worthy of the gardener's notice, es- 

 pecially as an ornament. A more particular description of the vari- 

 ties, their different modes of cultivation, and their properties and 

 uses, will be entered into and given in a future number of this work. 



Propagation and Culture, All the species of this most beautiful 

 genus thrive much the best in a mixture of loam and peat, and the 

 shrubby and perennial kinds are easily increased by young cuttings, 

 planted in sand, with a hand-glass placed over them ; those of the 

 stove species in heat. The seeds of annual kinds should be sown 

 in pots, which should be placed in a hot-bed, and the plants sepa- 

 rated and planted into other pots, singly, when they have grown to 

 a sufficient size for that purpose ; and some of them may be planted 

 out into the open border in a warm, sheltered situation, where they 

 will probably ripen their seeds. None of the species are worth the 

 trouble of cultivation, except in botanical gardens. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The medical virtues of this plant 

 have never been considered of sufficient importance to give it a place 

 in the Pharmacopseia, and consequently it has never been regarded 

 as of much value. Prof Lindley, speaking of this plant, says that 

 the extract, taken in quantities, has been known to do harm, produ- 

 cing symptoms that were considered dangerous, resembling those of 

 Belladonna and Nightshade. 



