TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 37 



sized pots, well drained, to grow tbem to perfection. In- 

 creased by dividing the suckers, as well as by seeds. The 

 principal are B. grandiflora and B. marginata, which flower 

 orange red, and B. nohilis, which flowers crimson. 



BLECHNUM. [PolypodiaceEe.] Elegant ferns. The 

 hothouse and greenhouse kinds grow well in turfy peat. The 

 hardy species, a very elegant plant for outdoor rockwork, 

 prefers to grow where there is some degree of moisture and 

 shade; it also requires a peaty soil, and is increased by 

 division. The sorts chiefly grown are B. aiistrale, green- 

 house; B. cartilagineum, greenhouse; B. hastatum, green- 

 house ; B. spicant, hardy ; and B. triangulares greenhouse. 



BLETIA. [Orchidaceas.] Stove or greenhouse peren- 

 nials. Some of the species, though reckoned as stove plants, 

 may be grown in a warm frame or greenhouse. They require 

 to be kept dormant and nearly dry through the winter, and 

 removed to a somewhat warmer place in February, when they 

 will commence growing. Soil, turfy peat, light loam, and 

 decayed cowdung. Propagated by division. 



BLUMENBACHIA. [Loasacea?.] Half-hardy annuals 

 and perennials, more curious than beautiful. They require 

 to be sown in pots in March, and, when large enough, planted 

 out where they are to bloom, or potted and trained in some 

 way. Rich light garden soil. 



BOMAREA. [Amaryllidaceae.] Very handsome twining 

 greenhouse perennial, with fleshy roots, allied to the Alstrce- 

 merias. Soil, deep light loam, or loam and leaf-mould in 

 equal parts. Propagated by division or by seeds. Except 

 edulis, all the following species will live in a dry situation out 

 of doors if planted deep enough to be beyond reach of frost ; 

 they lie domiaut in winter, and spring up with vigour late 

 in the spring. B. aciUifolia, flowers red and orange. B. 

 edulis, stove perennial, flowers red. B. salsilla, greenhouse, 

 flowers purple, with a dark and light eye. 



BONAPARTEA. [Bromeliacese.] Stove perennials, with 

 decurved rush-like leaves from a centre. Soil, sandy loam, 

 requiring a largish-sized pot. Increased by seeds, or by 

 divisions of the offshoots. The one cultivated is B. juncea. 



BORAGO. Borage. [Boraginaceae.] Hardy annuals, 

 biennials, and perennials. The common Borage, a gay annual, 



