196 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Bletia — continued. 

 in the bottom of the pot, which should be filled to within 

 lin. of the top with soil. The bnlbs should then be in- 

 serted, and just covered. A good supply of water during 

 the growing season is necessary, and only a moderate 

 amount of heat. After growth has ceased, a period of 

 rest is required, during wliich time very little water 

 should be given. Propagation is effected by divisions, 

 which should bo made after the plants have finished 

 flowering, or previous to their starting into growth. 



B. campanulata (bell-sliaped). ^. deep purple, with a white 

 centre, lasting a con.siderable time in perfection. ^lexico. 



B. florida (florid).* Jl. pale rose-coloured ; lip not spurred. July 

 and August, h. 2ft. West Indies, 1786. A very pretty species. 

 (B. R. 1101.) 



B. gracilis (slender). Jl. pale greenish-white ; sepals and petals 

 nearly eqtial, lanceolate, acuminate ; lip red and yeUow ; scape 

 simple. I. oblong, lanceolate, plicate. A. liin. Mexico, 1830. 

 (B. R. 1681.) 



B. hyacinthlna (Hyacinth-like).* Jl. purple, racemose ; lip not 

 spurred, beardless ; scape about as long as the le.aves. March to 

 June. I. lanceolate, h. 1ft. Cliina, 1802. This pretty species 

 h;Ls proved to be quite hardy. (Garden, Nov., 1879.) 



B. patula (spreading-flowered). Ji. purple, spreading ; scape tall, 

 branched. March. I. lanceolate, h. 2ft. Hayti, 1830. (B. M., 

 3518.) 



B. Shepherdii (Shepherd's).* Jl. on branching spikes, purple, 

 marked down the centre of the lip with yellow. Winter, l. long, 

 lanceolate, dark green. Jamaica, 1825. (B. M. 3319.) 



B. Sherrattiana (.Sherratt's).* Jl. about a dozen on a spike, rich 

 rosy purple ; petals very Itroad, twice the breadth of the sepiUs ; 

 lip deep purple in front, marked with white and yellow down the 

 centre. I. three to four-plicate. Pseudo-bulbs depressed. New 

 Grenada, 1867. (B. M. 5646.) 



B. verecunda (modest). Jl. purple ; lip not spurred. January. 

 h. 3ft. West Indies, Mexico, Ac, 1733. (B. M. 930.) 



BUGHIA SAFIDA. The Akee Tree. This is now 

 included under the genus Cupania (which see). 



BIiIGHT, or BLAST. Applied to various diseases 

 of plants which are caused or accelerated either by the 

 presence of parasitic fungi or insects, or by atmospheric 

 influence. Blight generally proves fatal to the whole or 

 part of the subject attacked. 



BIiIITB. A term applied to plants which fail to pro- 

 duce central buds. The defect is frequently noticeable in 

 the Cabbage, and other plants of the Brassica tribe ; and 

 Is, perhaps, mainly due to the attacks of insects in a very 

 early stage. Great care should therefore be exercised in 

 keeping the seed beds clear of insect pests, by the appli- 

 cation of ashes, lime, and soot, or spent hops. 



BIiOOD FIiOWEB. See Haemantlias. 



BLOOBBOOT. See Sauguiuaria canadensis. 



BIiOOlU. A fine powder-like substance found on 

 Grapes, Cucumbers, Plums, &c., and varying in colour in 

 the different subjects. It should be carefully protected, 

 as it improves the appearance of the fruit. The term is 

 also generally used — although incorrectly — as the plural of 

 blossom. 



BIiOSSOM. The flower of a plant, or the essential 

 organs of reproduction, with their appendages. 



BIiUB-BBLIiS. See Campanula rotundifolia and 

 Scilla nutans. 



BIiTJB-BOTTLB. See Ceutaurea Cyanus. 



BIiUi: GUM TREE. See Eucalyptus globulus. 



BIiTJETS. The French name for Centaurea Cyanns. 

 See al.'^o Houstonia coerulea and Vaccinium angusti- 

 folium. 



BLUMENBACHIA (in honour of John Frederick 

 Blumenbach, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Gottingen, 

 and distinguished as a comparative anatomist). Ord. 

 Loasacem. Elegant branched, climbing or trailing, annual, 

 biennial, or perennial herbs, generally covered with stinging 

 hairs, which are very objectionable. Flowers axillary, 

 solitary, bracteate, very pretty and interesting. Leaves 

 opposite, lobed. They are of easy culture in ordinary 

 yarden soil. Propagated by seeds, which should be sown 



Blumenbachia — cuntiiiued. 

 in pots, in spring, and placed in a gentle heat, where they 

 will germinate in about a fortnight. When the seedlings 

 are large enough, and after having been previously hardened 

 off, they may be planted out in their blooming quarters, or 

 potted on and trained to a trellis. 



Fig. 257. Blujiewiacuia cumuiiE.ssis. 



B. chnquitensis (Chuquitan).* Jl. solitary, axillary, with five to 

 ten boat-shaped red petals, which are yellow ^vithin. September. 

 Z. rtblong-lanceolate, pinnate ; segments pinnatitidly lobeiL Peru, 

 1863. Half-hardy climbing perennial. See Fig. 257. (B. M. 6143.) 



B. contorta (twisted).* Jl. orange-red, with cup-shaped green 

 scales within. July. I. oblong-ovate, pinnatifid ; lobes incisely 

 toothed. Peru. Greenhouse climber, but may he grown against 

 a wall, out of doors, during the summer. (B. M. 6134.) 



Fig. 258. Fluwjlu of Blumknhachia cokonata. 



B. coronata (crowned),* n. of pure glossy wliiteness, quad. 

 rauiular, crown-shaped, 2in. in diameter «ach way. June. I. 

 iianow, liipinnatitid, cut into small segments, h. Ijft. Chili, 

 1872. This is an elegant dwarf, tufted, erect bienni.al, with the 

 pure white blooms imbedded in the metallic lustrous foliage. SVN. 

 Caiojilwra coronata. See Fig. 258. 



B. insignis (remarkable).* Jl. with whitish peUiIs and reddish- 

 yellow scales, axillary, on long peduncles, about lin. in diameter. 



