AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



449 



NETTING. For the protection and preservation of 

 ripe fruits, seeds, seedling plants, &c., Netting of some 

 description is an indispensable article in gardens. That 

 made from wire, and afterwards galvanised, is mostly 

 used when a permanent protection is needed, such as 

 for keeping away ground-vermin from plants and trees 

 which are known to be in danger of destruction in con- 

 sequence of the bark or the whole plant being eaten. 

 Old fish-nets are cheap, and form the best material 

 for temporarily protecting fruits, seeds, &c., from the 

 ravages of birds. When hung over fruit blossoms, in 

 spring, Nets are frequently of great service in warding 

 off the effects of frost, and admitting light at the same 

 time. Netting of either kind is usually spoken of as 

 being of a certain mesh; this signifies the diameter of 

 the holes in it, and forms a guide in selecting for various 

 purposes. It will generally last for several years, if taken 

 care of, and kept in a dry place when not in use. 



NETTLE. See Urtica. 



NETTLE, DEAD. See Lamium. 



NETTLE-TREE. See Celtis. 



NEUBECZIA. Included under Iris. 



NEUBERJA. A synonym of Watsonia (which 

 see). 



NETTDORFIA. A synonym of Nolana (which see). 



NEUMANNIA. Included under Fitcaimia (which 

 see). 



NEURODIUM. See Tamitis. 



NEUROL2ENA (from neuron, a nerve, and Icena, 

 a covering; referring to the three-nerved segments of 

 the involucre). STN. Calea. OBD. Composites. A 

 genus comprising a couple of species of tall, stove or 

 greenhouse, sub-shrubs, of which one is a native of Co- 

 lumbia and the West Indies, and the other of Mexico. 

 Flower - heads whitish, small ; involucre campanula te ; 

 bracts three or four - seriate, imbricate, narrow, mem- 

 branous, rather obtuse. Leaves alternate, entire, den- 

 ticulate, or lower ones three-lobed. Only one species, 

 N. lobata, has been introduced. It thrives in a compost 

 of loam, leaf mould, and sand, and should be grown in 

 a light situation near the glass in a warm greenhouse. 

 N. lobata (lobed). Jl-heads yellow ; corymbs heaped. June and 



July. I. variable, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, cuneate 



below the lobes, puberulons, scabrous, or tomentose beneath. 



h. 2ft. West Indies, 1733. (B. M. 1734, under the name of Calea 



lobata.) 



NEUROPTERA. See Insects. 



NEUROSPERMA. Included under Momordica 



(which see). 



NEWBOULDIA (named in honour of the Bev. 

 W. W. Newbould, one of the most genial and pains- 

 taking of British botanists). SYN. Spathotecoma. OED. 

 Bignoniacece. A genus comprising three species of 

 glabrous stove trees, natives of tropical Africa. Flowers 

 pink-violet, in thyrsoid panicles. Leaves, for the most 

 part, opposite, sometimes ternately whorled, or slightly 

 scattered, pinnate ; leaflets often serrulate. The species 

 here described is the only one introduced. For culture, 

 see Tecoma. 



N. Isevis (smooth-leaved). JL rosy-white or purple, in many- 

 flowered, corymbose, terminal panicles. I. alternate or ter- 

 nately-verticillate, iinpari -pinnate. (B. M. 4537, under name of 

 Spathodea laevis.) S. pentandra (B. M. 3681) is probably a mere 

 form of this species. 



NEW JERSEY TEA. See Ceanothus ameri- 

 canus. 



NEW ZEALAND FLAX. See Pliormium tenaz. 



NEW ZEALAND SPINACH (Tetragonia ex- 

 pansa). A hardy or half-hardy annual, introduced by 

 Sir Joseph Banks from New Zealand, where, amongst 

 several other places, it is found native. The plants are 



Vol. IL 



New Zealand Spinach continued. 

 cultivated in gardens for the use of the young leaves, 

 which form a substitute for those of the ordinary Spinach. 

 They are, however, of inferior quality when cooked ; but, 

 as the plants grow very vigorously, do not run to seed, 

 and withstand drought much better than the other 

 varieties, a few should always be grown in case of a 

 substitute being required in summer. They are propa- 

 gated by seeds, which are very hard, and should be 

 steeped in water before being sown. Sow on a gentle 

 hotbed some time in March ; protect the seedlings 

 afterwards until May, when they may be planted out- 



Fio. 688. BRANCHLET OF NEW ZEALAND SPINACH. 



side. Distances of about 3ft. each way will usually be 

 sufficient ; a little more space might be allowed in 

 extra good soils. New Zealand Spinach prefers a rather 

 light rich soil, and succeeds best on a border with southern 

 aspect. If the leaves are pinched off, and used when 

 young, others will be freely produced, and keep up a 

 succession. See Fig. 688. 



NHANDIROBA. A synonym of Fevillea (which 

 see). 



NTCANDHA (named after Nicander, of Colophon, 

 who lived about 150 A.D., and wrote on medicine and 

 botany). STN. Calydermos. OBD. Solanacece. A mono- 

 typic genus, the species being an erect - branching, 

 glabrous, hardy, annual herb. Propagated by seeds, 

 sown in the open border. As soon as the seedlings are 

 up, they must be planted separately : the plants, being 

 large, require a good deal of space. 



N. physaloides (Winter-cherry-like).* fl. blue, rather large, 

 extra-axillary, solitary, drooping ; calyx pentagonal, five-parted, 

 inflated ; stamens five. July to September. Berry fleshy, almost 

 dry, three to five-celled, inclosed in the calyx. Leaves petiolate, 

 membranous, deeply sinuate-dentate, or slightly lobed. h. 2ft. 

 to 4ft Peru, 1759. (B. M. 2458.) 



NICOTIANA (named after Jean Nicot, 1530-1600, of 

 Nismes in I,angnedoc ; he was agent from the King of 

 France to Portugal, and introduced tobacco into France). 

 Tobacco. OBD. Solanacece. An extensive genus (up- 

 wards of fifty species have been described, of which pro- 

 bably not more than thirty-five are distinct) of mostly 

 greenhouse or half-hardy herbs, sometimes suffmticose, 



a M 



