448 



EVENING FLOWER F ABA. 



The typical genus has the antennas elbowed, the 

 abdomen very minute and compressed, and fixed to 

 the posterior and upper part of the thorax. The 

 species are of small size, and are stated to be parasi- 

 tic upon the species of cock roaches. The type, 

 Evania appendigastei; Linnams, is attached to the 

 Blatta Oricntalis, and is therefore not considered by 

 Mr. Stephens as an original inhabitant of this 

 country. 



EVENING FLOWERis the Hetpenmiha radiata, 

 of Ker, a family of bulbs allied to Lria, natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. They require the same treat- 

 ment as other Cape bulbs, that is, potted in light soil, 

 and kept in a cold frame to flower. 



EVERGREEN THORN is the Cralcegux pyra- 

 cantha of Persoon. A hardy ornamental shrub, very 

 frequently planted on the walls of town houses, where 

 its scarlet fruit are particularly showy in winter. The 

 fruit are seldom seen in the country, being devoured 

 by bird? as soon as they are ripe. 



EVERLASTING is a species of Gnaphalium, so 

 called from the long duration of the flower after being 

 cut and dried. 



EVERLASTING PEA is the LaOiyrus tylvettris 

 of Linnaeus. The broad leaved species is also called 

 everlasting-, and is often seen growing against the 

 walls of the courts of town houses. 



EVOLVULUS (Linnaeus), a genus of climbing 

 exotic annuals, having handsome flowers, for which 

 they are sometimes cultivated in our stoves. They 

 belong to the fifth class of Linnaeus, and to the natu- 

 ral order Convolvulacete. 



EXACUM (Linnaeus), a genus of exotic annuals 

 belonging to Tctrandria Monogynia, and to the natural 

 order Gcnlianets. 



EXC^ECARIA (Linnaeus), a genus of hothouse 

 plants, belonging to the natural order Euphorbiacece. 

 They are treated like other plants of the order, and 

 increased by cuttings struck in heat. 



EXOCARPOS ( Labillardiere), a genus of timber 

 shrubby, and climbing evergreen plants, found in- 

 New Holland. I.iima au class and order, Moncecia 

 Pentandria, and belonging to the natural order Osyci- 

 dece. These plants do well with ordinary greenhouse 

 management. 



EXOSTEMM A (Richard). A genus of ornamental 

 timber trees, natives of the West Indies. Class and order, 

 Pentandria Monogynia, natural order Rubiacctx, These 

 plants were formerly arranged with Cinchona, but 

 separated therefrom by Richard. They are stove 

 plant?, grown on loam and moor-earth, and propa- 

 gated by cuttings. 



FABA (Moench). This is the well-known com- 

 mon garden bean, called by Linnagus Vicia Faba, and 

 thereby signifying the plant to be a species of vetch. 

 It is now raised to the rank of a genus, but without 

 congeners. The flowers are diadelphous, and of 

 course the plant is ranged among the Lcguminosee. 



The common bean is one of our most useful culi- 

 nary vegetables ; and as a field crop, of very great 

 value as horse food. There is a vast number of va- 

 rieties of this vegetable, as well for garden as for field 

 purposes ; nearly a score of each are named in seeds- 

 men's catalogues. 



The grand object of the gardener in the culture of 

 beans is to have them ready for the table as early 

 as possible : to have a regular supply throughout the 

 season, and always in abundance. With this view he 



should sow the first crops in the months of October, 

 November, and December, either on a warm and 

 sheltered spot, where tlicy are intended to remain, or 

 on seed-beds when they may be conveniently covered 

 in severe weather; whence they are transplanted into 

 drills in the open borders, or quarters of the garden, 

 when the wintery weather is past. 



For all these early sowings, the mazagan variety is 

 preferred, not only because it is one of the most deli- 

 cate in flavour, but also because it is the hardiest of 

 all the garden sorts. To have a regular supply, a 

 pint of seed should be sowed every three weeks from 

 the twentieth of October to March. 



In January and February, and throughout the 

 spring months, the larger sorts, beginning with long 

 pods, should be put in at different times to allow the 

 crops to succeed each other seriatim : the sowings to 

 be continued till the of May, and even longer : for, if 

 the white blossom or mazagan be sowed even so late 

 as July, a favouring season may bring forth a late crop 

 in the autumn. 



In sowing these large seeds it should be observed 

 that they require a firm seed-bed. The ground should 

 be good, and specially prepared for them : but if this 

 be done two months before the^beans are put in, the 

 seedlings will rise the stronger for it, But if sowed 

 on newly digged or trenched ground, the bottom of 

 the drills should be trodden hard as well as the earth 

 with which they are covered. Even if dibbed into 

 firmly consolidated ground, the plants rise with greater 

 vigour. 



Transplanting beans is practised by gardeners for 

 two special reasous : first, as already observed, be- 

 cause the earliest sowings can be safely kept through 

 the winter by being occasionally covered with glass 

 or mats. Being sown thickly together in a frame, 

 or on narrow beds in the open ground, they can, 

 when necessarily, be easily covered with a mat or 

 two, and, when the season permits, removed to their 

 final stations. Another reason is, the check which 

 the plants receive by the removal causes them to 

 flower sooner, and at the same time makes them more 

 abundantly fruitful. A seed-bed, moreover, requires 

 but a small space : and it may happen that the ground 

 intended for the crop, is occupied by other vegetables 

 not yet to be cleared off, and which it may be advan- 

 tageous or convenient to let remain, till the season 

 for transplanting the beans arrive. 



The bean, being a rank growing 'plant, requires a 

 deep rich loamy or clayey soil, if a great crop be 

 looked for ; the stems, being high and heavy, require 

 a firm hold of the ground, to prevent them being laid 

 by the wind or rain ; and this is the reason that, 

 when planted on light garden soil, it should be well 

 compacted, to allow the plants a good hold. 



Beans are usually sowed or dibbed in drills, the 

 dwarf-growing sorts at two feet, and the larger kinds 

 at two and a half, or three feet intervals between the 

 rows. The spaces from seed to seed varies with 

 their size ; two inches is enough for Mazagans, 

 though Windsors require at least five-inch distances 

 between. The fact is, the thinner they are sowed 

 the better they grow, flower, and bear. During 

 growth they should be kept free from weeds, and be 

 earthed up when necessary. 



Topping is an old and serviceable practice ; if 

 done in good time, that is, as soon as there is a suffi- 

 ciency of blossom on the stem, it assists to swell the 

 pods and seeds, and often prevents the attack of 



