668 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART II]. 
Leguminacez, we think a summary of these hints on their culture will 
be interesting to our readers. Mr. Bowie took seeds of various species of 
the Australian Aciciz with him from England to the Cape of Good Hope, 
and sowed them there immediately on his arrival. Many of them failed; but 
several came up, after having been three years in the ground. Seeds, also, of 
Acacia longifolia, saved at the Cape, and sown ten days after gathering, showed 
the same tardiness in vegetating. In both cases, the ground was duly kept 
moist by watering and shading, and no weeds were allowed to grow. After 
various experiments, Mr. Bowie found that nearly all of the Cape and Aus- 
tralian Leguminacez “thrive better by having water heated to 200°, or even 
212° Fahr. poured over them, leaving them to steep, and the water to cool 
for 24 hours.” Where there is a numerous collection, and the quantity of 
seeds of each kind are few, he advises leaving them in their respective papers, 
and steeping the packets. The soil he recommends for leguminous seeds in 
general is, one part sandy loam, and three parts thoroughly decayed leaves. 
The seeds ought to be sown in pots of medium size, so as to maintain a more 
equal degree of moisture than can be obtained in pots either very large or 
very small; equable moisture being essentially necessary to the health and 
germination of all seeds, but more especially to those of seeds which lie a long 
time in the soil. The spring is the best season for sowing; because steeped 
seeds will come up the same season, if the pots are placed in a hot-bed. The 
plants should be transplanted while in a growing state, allotting to each 
species the peculiar soil required for it, as far as the requisite information for 
that purpose has been procured from the collector, or other sources. What- 
ever soil may be required for the plants, Mr. Bowie very properly remarks, 
care must be taken not to pulverise it too finely in sifting; for the taproot, 
in its descent, if it meets with any obstruction to its perpendicular direction, 
receives an impulse approaching to animal instinct; and, rounding the impe- 
diment, forms much sooner those lateral fibres and roots, which are to become 
the organs of nourishment for the future tree, &c. This will not be generally 
_ the case with plants placed in earth sifted as fine as snuff: the taproot will 
then descend without forming any lateral fibres ; and the plant, circumscribed 
in its organs of nourishment, will soon display its state of health, by the sickly 
hue of the leaves, which will prematurely fall off; and, upon examination, the 
root will be found embedded, as it were, in a condensed cement, which all 
the efforts of nature cannot penetrate with fibrous roots. 
As soon as the young plants are established in the pots, they must be re- 
moved from the frames, and plunged in prepared beds of decayed bark, formed 
at or under the level of the natural ground; and occasionally supplied with 
water, until the middle or latter end of August; when they are to be raised, 
and the taproot cut off, if it should have passed the aperture at the bottom 
of the pot. They may remain above ground until housed for winter; during 
which season as much air, and as little fire heat, as possible, should be given 
to them. In a general collection, it is impossible to allow every species its 
proper atmospherical temperature; but long confined air, and damp, are as 
injurious to vegetable, as they are to animal, life. There are, generally, some 
bright days occurring during the winter season in Britain: those opportunities 
should be embraced to purify the houses, by throwing open the doors and 
sashes, and keeping up a brisk fire in the morning, as often as may be judged 
necessary. 
There are few Cape plants but what will resist the effects of some degrees 
of frost: the Plectranthus fruticdsus, a native of the Cape forests, is the most 
susceptible of injury from cold ; and, if properly placed in the house, proves 
a warning thermometer against direct injury, as it is the first to suffer, and, 
consequently, show, the increasing harm. 
Of the South African Leguminacez, the following genera form striking and 
beautiful ornaments in their native wilds, particularly to those who are charmed 
with the outward appearance and various colours of flowers; and, although 
the nature of the soil where they are generally found in greatest numbers 
