An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



159 



Bamadesia — continued, 



B. rosea (rosy).* Jt. -heads rose-coloured, solit-xry, ovate-cylin- 

 drical, dowTiy, sessile ; florets bilabiate, one lip oblong-emar- 

 ginate, villous, the other filiform; hairs on receptacle twisted; 

 pappus stiff, plumose. Mav. t. alternate, ovate, acute at both 

 ends. h. lift. .Soutli America, 1840. See Fig. 206. (B. M. 1232.) 



BAKNAB.DIA. Included under Scilla (which see). 



BAK.OIVIETEK. An instrument for measuring the 

 density of the atmosphere, and hence determining the 

 probable changes of weatlier, or the heig^ht of any ascent. 

 To the gardener the Barometer is indispensable as a 

 warning to take due precaution. 



BAROSMA (from harijs, heavy, and osme, smell; 

 referring to the powerful scent of the leaves). Name 

 often incorrectly spelt Baryosma. S\'N. Parapetalifera. 

 Ord. Ralacece. Very pretty small, Heath-like, greenhouse 

 evergreen shrubs, from the Cape of Good Hope. Calyx 

 equally five-parted ; petals five, oblong ; stamens ten. 

 Leaves opposite or scattered, coriaceous, flat, dotted, with 

 their margins sometimes glandularly serrulated, some- 

 times almost entire or revolute. They thrive in a mix- 

 ture of sand, poat, and a little turfy loam, with good 

 drainage and firm potting. Cuttings, taken from ripened 

 wood, inserted in a pot of sand, and placed in a shady 

 position in a cool house, with a bell glass over them, 

 will root readily in a few weeks. 

 B. betulina (Birch-leaved), y?. white, axillary, solitary. February 



to September. I. opposite, obovate, serrulate, sessile, spreading. 



h. 1ft. to 3ft. 1790. (B. M. PI. 45.) 

 B. dloica (rtitecious).* Jl. purplish; peduncles axillary, usually 



in threes, shorter than the leaves. April. I. scattered ; upper 



ones tern.ate, lanceolate, t-aperinsj: to both ends, full of glandiiiar 



dots, spreading, h. l(t. to 2ft. 1816. (B. R. 502.) 

 B. latlfolla (broad-leaved). /. white, usually solitary, lateral. 



July. t. oppo.site, ovate-oblong, sessile, semdated, smoothish, 



without glandular dots ; branches villous. A. 1ft. 1789. 

 B* pulchella (pretty).* Jl. pale red or purple ; peduncles axillary, 



usually solitary, exceeding the leaves. February. I. crowded, 



ovate, quite smooth, with thickened, crenate-glandular margins. 



h. 1ft. to 3ft. 1787. 

 B. serratifolla (saw-edged-leaved).* Jl. white ; peduncles axillary, 



sub-divided. Slarch to June. I. nearly opposite, lanceolate, 



stalked, glandularly serrulated, smooth, h. 1ft. to 3ft. 1789 



(B. M. 456, and B. Z. 1863, 12.) 



BABRBD. Marked in spaces with a paler colour, 

 resembling bars. 



BARRBN FIiOWBRS. The male or stammate 

 flowers of many plants, such as the Cucumber, Melon, &c., 

 are popularly known as Barren Flowers, i.e., they pro- 

 duce no fruit. This condition is, in some respects, similar 

 to " blind " Strawberries or " blind " Cabbages, so far as 

 fruition is concerned, but structurally and functionally it 

 is widely different. The Barren Flowers of the Cucumber, 

 Melon, &o., are produced by what are known as monoecious 

 plants, i.e., having male and female organs in different 

 flowers, but on the same plant. In the Strawberry, &c.. 

 Barren Flowers are generally the result of unfavourable 

 surroundings, or unskilful cultivation. A good example of 

 Barren Flowers is seen in the ray-florets of many 

 Composite plants, which are frequently really 

 neuter, having neither male nor female organs. 



BARRBIT SOILS. A term signifying such 

 soils as are normally unprofitable. The terra can 

 only be correctly applied in very few cases ; as 

 almost any soil may be rendered capable of afford- 

 ing a basis for some kind of vegetable life, arbo- 

 real or other. The question of planting up the 

 enormous quantity of what is now waste land, might well 

 engage the most practical consideration. Of course, the 

 natural state of any land will, to a great extent, determine 

 what would be its ultimate condition, after all that could 

 be effected by mechanical agency has been accomplished. 

 Drainage, irrigation, enrichment, pulverisation, are all 

 matters which can only be considered upon a particular 

 basis ; but we doubt not that the thousands of acres of 

 land now practically almost useless, might, by the adop- 

 tion of proper means, be rendered fairly remunerative. 



BARRBN-WORT. Sec Bpimedituu. 



BARRINGTONIA (named after the Hon. Dainea 

 Barrington, F.K.S.). Ord. Mijrtacem. A genus of stove 

 evergreen trees and shrubs, very difficult to cultivate. 

 Flowers largo, racemose. Loaves opposite or whorlcd, 

 generally obovate ; margins toothed or entire. Fruit one- 

 seeded, fleshy. They require a compost of two parts loam, 

 one peat, and one sand. Water should be given in abun- 

 dance, and a moist atmosphere at all times maintained, the 

 temperatiu'e ranging from (>.5deg. to 95deg. Propagated 

 by cuttings obtained from the lateral shoots ; these, taken 

 oil at a joint when the wood is ripe, planted in sand, with 

 a hand glass over them, root readily. The cuttings should 

 not bo stripped of any of their leaves. 



B. racemosa (raceme-flowered). /?. red ; racemes pendulous, very 

 long. I. cuneate-oblong, acuminated, serrulated. /). 30ft. Mala- 

 bar, 1822. ;(B.M. 3831.) 

 B. speciosa (showy).* /!. purple and white, large and hamlsome, 

 disposed in an erect thyrse. I. sliining, cuneate-oblong, obtuse, 

 quite entire, h. 20in. to 30in. in I'^ngland. Tliis beautifid species 

 seldom attains a height of more than 6ft. or 8ft. ((.i.C. 1845, p. 56.) 



BARROW. Garden Barrows are very numerous, both 

 with and without wheels. The Flower-pot Barrow has a 

 wheel and a flat surface, on which plants, pots, or leaves are 

 placed, either du-ectly, or, when small, in shallow baskets. 

 The Haum Barrow is an open box or case, of wicker or 

 other work, placed on, or suspended from, a pair of handles, 

 with or without a wheel, and is useful for carrying litter, 

 leaves, &c. The Water Barrow, instead of a box, contains 

 a barrel, tub, or cistern, in which fluid manure, or ordinary 

 water, is conveyed to different parts of the garden The 

 Hand-barrow is a frame of wood, carried by two levers, 

 which form four handles ; for removing large pots or tubs 

 of trees or shrubs it is very useful. 



Fl.nWEll OF Bartoma aurra. 



BARTLIITGIA. A synonym of Flocama (which see). 



BARTONIA (in honour of Benjamin S. Barton, M.D., 

 formerly Professor of Botany at Philadelphia). Obd. Loa- 

 sncem. Hardy annuals or biennials, downy, with stiff and 

 bearded hairs. This genus is now placed under Mentzelia 

 in most standard botanical works. Flowers white or yellow, 

 large, terminal, expanding in the evening, when they are very 

 fragrant, and becoming reddish as they fade. Leaves alter- 

 nate, interruptedly pinuatifid. The species are very showy, 

 and well worth growing. Any ordinary garden soil suits 

 them. Seeds should be raised in a gentle heat in spring ; 



