PLOT C 69 



indigenous in England. Many varieties of Cucumbers, 

 Melons, and Pumpkins are of very ancient cultivation in the 

 East, and are unknown in the wild state. 



Ord. 84, BEGONIACEAE. None of the Elephant's Ears are hardy, 

 but several ornamental varieties are usually bedded out for the summer 

 months : this year in Plot H. 



FICOIDALES 



Ord. 86. CACTACEAE are grown in Cactus House No. 10. 

 Ord. 87. FICOIDEAE. The Fig Marigolds must not be 



confused with the true Figs. Most of the genera are S. 



African, but the Ice-plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum^ 



is well known in S. Europe. 



UMBELLALES 



Ord. 88. UMBELLIFERAE are more particularly abundant in 

 the Mediterranean lands. Some are esculent, but many, and 

 especially those living in damp places, are poisonous, or at 

 least powerfully medicinal. 



The tall-growing Heracleums will at once attract attention to 

 their bed in the middle of the plot. Some species are very 

 attractive to bumble-bees, which fall to the ground drugged and 

 dizzy as the result of their visit. A close relation is the familiar 

 Parsley, Pastinaca oleracea. Condemned criminals in ancient 

 Greece were commonly poisoned by Hemlock, Conium macu- 

 latuni) and it was thus that Socrates died. The swollen stems 

 of Fennel, Ferula communis, are eaten like Celery in S. Europe. 

 It has been identified with the Naptfr^ of Dioscorides, and is 

 still called Nartheca by the Greeks. "The hollow of the 

 stem is occupied by pith, which, being well dried, takes fire 

 like a match,* without injuring the outer portion ; and the stem 

 is therefore much used for carrying fire from place to place. 

 Our sailors laid in a store of it. This custom is of the highest 

 antiquity, and may explain a passage in * Hesiod,' where, 



* j.e. a s}ow match for firing gunpowder. 



