figured in the London Flor. and Bot. JMagazincs. 253 



itch of the druggists, is probably obtained. It grows very com- 

 mon in many parts of the West Indies, in waste land, twining and 

 fixing its low and rapid growing stems to fences or other objects. 

 In its cultivated character it is a handsome plant; producing an 

 abundance of long dense racemes of deep purple blossoms. The 

 specimen from which the drawing was taken, was produced in 

 the hot-house of Frederick Perkins, Esq., of Chopstead Place, 

 in September, 1836. Its cultivation is quite simple, being easi- 

 ly raised from seeds. 



The substance called cow-itch is the long, sharp, brittle hairs 

 that clothe the pods, and some other parts of the plant. When 

 applied to the skin, they produce a painful and intolerable itching. 

 This property, however, is not owing to any substance deleterious 

 in the plants themselves, but in their mechanical action, as they 

 break and pierce the skin. Notwithstanding their offensive coat- 

 ing, the pods of some of the species are eaten like kidney beans, in 

 India. With all this to detract from the plant, it is yet desi- 

 rable for a collection, and we should be glad to see it flour- 

 ishing in the gardens of this country. [Bot. Reg., April.) 



AO'TUS 

 ericoi (1 PS Pai<. Erica or heath-like Aotus. A green-house shrub; growing two feet high; 

 with oranae and yellow blossoms; appearing in May (?); cultivated by cuttings, in sand, in 

 a slight heat. Pax. Mag. Bot., Vol. VI, p. 51. 



A pretty plant, which has been known in English collections 

 for a long period, though now rarely seen, in even good collec- 

 tions. The plant has a heath-like habit, and, when in bloom, the 

 slender branches are terminated with a cluster or an umbel, com- 

 posed of from five to eight flowers. It is altogether a very interest- 

 ing plant, and should be found in our gardens. Like too many of 

 the beautiful old plants, it has been discarded to make room for 

 those new and rare, though frequently less elegant or interesting. 

 The plants are successfully cultivated, with but little other care 

 than that which is bestowed upon green-house plants in general. 

 The only exception is as respects the administering of water, and 

 in giving a good drainage to the pots. W'ater should never be 

 applied to the soil if it already has the least appearance of being 

 sufliciently moist — nor should the plants be allowed to become 

 so dry as to droop, for any length of time — either extreme will 

 be fatal. In potting, a very large quantity of fine potsherds 

 should be placed over the coarser ones at the bottom, to the 

 height of nearly one third of the pot. Heath soil and sandy loam, 

 with a small portion of fine sand, is a suitable compost. The 

 plants are propagated by cuttings, in sand, with a slight bottom 

 heat, and the seeds may frequently be procured, which vegetate 

 in a short period. [Pax. Mag. Bot., April.) 

 Tropceoldccce. 



TROPAl'OLUM 

 tuberosum Pail. Tnherous-rootcd Tropsolum; a green-house half hardy plant; growing four 

 or five feel high; with deep orange tioweis; appearing in the autumn; a native of Texas; 



