62 Remarks on the Cultivation of the Gentikna. acaulis. 



from eighteen to twenty-six inches in length, and possessing all 

 the good properties of a cucumber. For forcing, it is well 

 known. We notice it now more particularly, to state that we 

 raised some fine specimens in the open ground last summer, in a 

 warm and somewhat sheltered situation. No other than ordinary 

 care was bestowed upon them; but the vines, when cut down by 

 the early frost of October, were crowded with young fruits in all 

 stages of growth. 



Among some new varieties, which we have seen enumerated, 

 we notice the Sion house, Spink''s long frame, and new large 

 Prizefighter. 



Art. IV. Remarks on the Cultivation of the Genitana acaulis. 

 By S. Walker. 



So named from Gentius, king of Illyria. — French, la gen- 

 tiane. — Italian, la genziana. By the English it is sometimes 

 called feelwort, or baldmoney. The species of this beautiful 

 plant are very numerous. It is a genus of the class Pentandria, 

 order Digynia. Generic character: Calyx, perianth, five- 

 parted, sharp ; divisions oblong, permanent. Corolla, petals 

 one, tubular at bottom, imperforate at top, five-cleft, flat, wither- 

 ing, various in form. Stamina, filamenta five, subulate, shorter 

 than the corolla; antheras simple. Pistil, germen oblong, cylin- 

 dric, length of the stamina; styles none; stigmas two, ovate. 

 Pericarp, capsule oblong, columnar, acuminate, slightly bifid at 

 the tip, one-celled, tvvo-valved. Seeds, numerous, small, fixed 

 all round to the walls of the capsule; receptacles two, each fas- 

 tened longitudinally to a valve. Observe, the figure of the fruit 

 is constant; but both that and the flower varies much in the dif- 

 ferent species, as Avell in number as in form. Some species ex- 

 clude a fifth part of the number in the flower. One adds three 

 parts of the number in the flower. One species has the neck of 

 the corolla spreading; a second has the neck closed with hairs; 

 a third has the segments of the corolla ciliate; a fourth has a bell- 

 shaped upright plaited border; in a fifth it is starred with small 

 segments, interposed between the larger ones; some have a bell- 

 shaped, and others a funnel-shaped corolla. Essential char- 

 acter: Corolla, monopetalous. Capsule, superior, two-valved, 

 with two longitudinal receptacles. 



