OBSERVATIONS ON THK BENTIIAMIA FTtAQlFEBA. 61 



lowing particulars relative to it are given ; as numerous readers of 

 the work may not have seen the remarks, I beg their insertion at the 

 present. " Benthamia fragifera. — We are at a loss for words calcu- 

 lated to give expression to our admiration of this most truly splendid 

 evergreen shrub. Seeds of it were sent by Sir Anthony Buller, 

 during his residing in the East Indies, to his relative, J. H. Tre- 

 mayne, Esq., Heligan, in Cornwall, in whose garden the plant was 

 raised by the verv worthy gardener, Mr. Roberts, who has had the 

 honour and pleasure of raising, flowerirg, and fruiting, for the first 

 time in Europe, this unrivalled hardy shrub. The fiuit in the figure 

 is from the finest on the branch sent us. The flowers are terminal, 

 and surrounded by an involucre two inches across, of four yellowish 

 parts resembling petals. The real flowers are of a whitish green, 

 small. The profusion of both parts, in the heads of flowers, render 

 them very showy. The flowers are succeeded by a profusion of 

 splendid fruit, which, from their weight, are somewhat pendulous ; 

 the appearance during autumn and winter must form a most de- 

 lightful object. The flesh is rather insipid, and slightly bitter to the 

 taste, but somewhat agreeable. It is of a yellow colour inside. The 

 plant was raised in 1825, and has been planted out in the open air; 

 it has not required even the slightest protection during winter. It is 

 growing in a strong soil. The bush is now seventeen feet high, and 

 spreads proportionably. It is readily increased by seeds, layers, or 

 cuttings, struck under a hand-glass, using a loamy soil." My 

 residence being about thirty-six miles from Heligan, I had an 

 opportunity of seeing the shrub in beauteous condition. I then 

 obtained a fine plant, which is now nearly as high as the original 

 plant, but of course not so strong. It bears fruit profusely every 

 season. The situation it grows in has an open south aspect, sheltered 

 on the other three by a thick yew fence, belted by a plantation, 

 buildings, &c. The grounds are upon the south slope of a hill, dry, 

 warm. It was planted in the open air at first, in a rich loam, upon 

 a dry substratum, and from that time to the present has not had the 

 least additional protection, nor has it been in the least injured by 

 winter, frosts, &c. On one occasion the temperature was down at 

 14° Fahrenheit, and several other times exceedingly severe. Some 

 persons have doubted whether it could be grown successfully in the 

 open air generally in this country. I have seen it flourish in Devon- 



