B O R 



B O R 



There are other species, which may be culti- 

 vated where variety of these sorts of plants is 

 warned. 



Cidlurc. — These plants are easily propagated, 

 either by the seeds, or dividing the roots accord- 

 ing to the kinds. 



In the first sort, the best mode is by sowing 

 the seeds annually in the autumn or spring 

 months in the places where the plants are to 

 stand, or hv letting, the plants shed their seeds, 

 keeping them from standing too closely together. 

 When thev arc intended for the produce of their 

 tender young leaves, thev may be sown broad- 

 cast in small beds at different time-, from the 

 spring till autumn, in the garden, covering the 

 seed "by the rake ; afterwards, when of proper 

 •growth, keeping the plants thinned out to a good 

 distance, as six or eigiit inches, or more. In 

 this way supplies of green leaves and flov.ers 

 are provided in succession, for sunmier, autumn, 

 and the following early spring. 



The second species is increased with much 

 facility by parting the roots, and planting them 

 out where they are to remain, in the autumn. 

 It may also be raised by sowing the seeds at the 

 same scf.son, v. here they are to remain, keeping 

 the plants while young perfectly free from 

 weeds. 



The first sort, and varieties, will succeed in 

 almost any soil or situation, being perfectly 

 hardy ; but the latter species, as the flower-stem.s 

 are put forth verv early in the spring, requires a 

 drv soil, and warm aspect, to guard against 

 the effects of frost. Such effects are much 

 obviated bv having their roots planted in dry 

 lime or other rubbish, as well as their over lux- 

 uriant growth prevented, ar.d the danger of 

 frosts consequently greatly lessened. When 

 these plants have been once planted, they con- 

 tinue for many years with little trouble, and are 

 not liable to be injured by the vicis-ritudes of heat 

 or cold. 



The first species is cmploved both as a plant 

 of utility and ornament, being valued by some 

 for culinary purposes, as a pot-herb; and for 

 the young leaves and flowers to be niadc use of 

 in the vvav of sallads, as well as for being put 

 in wine to form coo! tankards. It may also be 

 planted on borders or clumps m pleasure-grounds 

 for variety. 



The latter sort is wholly employed as a flower- 

 ins ornamental plant. 



BOKBONIA, a genus comprising plants 



of the shrubby exotic kind, for the green-house. 



It belongs to tiie class and order Diadelplim 



Decandria, and ranks in the natural order of 



Lerruminoice. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed, semiquinquefid, turbinate perianthium, 

 half the length of tlie corolla : divisions lanceolate, 

 acuminate, rigid, pungent, and subequal ; the 

 lowest longer than the rest: the corolla is penta- 

 petalous, papilionaceous, and hirsute on the 

 outside : banner reflected, and obtuse : claw 

 the length of the caly.x : wings semicordate, a 

 little shorter than the banner: keel two-petalled, 

 lunulate, and obtuse: the stamina have nine 

 filaments, united into a cylinder gaping longi- 

 tudinally above, rising at the ends : the anthers 

 are small : the pistillum is a subulate germ : 

 the style very short, and ascending: the stigma 

 obtuse and emarginate: the periearpium is a 

 roundish legume, acuminate, one-celi^d, mu- 

 cronate with a spine: the seed kidney-form. 



Tl>e species mostly cultivated for ornament 

 and variety are: I. B. laiiceolala, Spear-leaved 

 Borbonia; 2. B. cordata, Heart-kaved Bor- 

 bonia; 3. B. crencia, Notch-leaved Jiorbonia. 



The first has a stem a foot high, smooth, 

 round, and ash-coloured: divided into a few 

 branches, which are red whilst young: the 

 leaves are stem-clasping, long, narrow, ending 

 in a sharp point. 'J"he flowers come out from 

 between the leaves at the ends of the branches 

 in small clusters: they are yellow, and shaped 

 like those of broom. It flowers in August and 

 September. 



In the second species the leaves are broader 

 than in the first: the stalks are slender, and 

 covered with white bark : the leaves are stem- 

 clasping, and terminated by sharp points, like 

 those of butcher's broom. The flowers are 

 produced in small clusters at the ends of the 

 branches, and are of the same shape and colour 

 as those of the above sort, but larger. The 

 calyx is five-cleft, nearly regular, hirsute, with 

 spiny segments, and the whole corolla tomen- 

 tose on the outside. 



The third has the leaves cordate stem-clasping, 

 net-veined, and pointed: the flowers are in 

 racemes. 



All these species are natives of the Cape. 

 Culture. — Tiie<e plants may be increased either 

 by sowing the seeds obtained from abroad in pots 

 of ligluloamyearthassoonas procured, and when 

 of proper growth in the autumn placed in an old 

 tan hot-bed under frames to be protected during 

 the winter from frost and too much moisture ; 

 and in the spring sowing, plunged in a moderate 

 hot-bed in order to promote the vegetation of 

 the seeds, and when the plants have attained a 

 sufficient growth, removed into separate small 

 pots, being replunged into the hot-bed, proper 

 shade and water being given; or by laying down 



