March. J GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING. 207 



^considerable time in flower; produces a cone in shape of a 

 pine, but not imbricate. The substance is as hard as bone, 

 and contains many seeds. Those most admired for the foliage 

 are, B. dentdta, B. cemiila, B. serrdta, B. lati folia, B. grdndis, 

 which is the largest. B. specibsa has the longest foliage. 

 B. Cunninghdmii, B. spinulosa,B. palluddsa, and B. repens, 

 these will afford a good variety. B. verticilldta is entirely 

 different in appearance from the others. 



They must be well drained, and placed in an airy part of 

 the green-house. Great care should be taken that they do 

 not get too dry, for they seldom recover if allowed to flag for 

 want of water. This genus is named in honour of Sir Joseph 

 Banks, a distinguished promoter of the study of natural history. 

 (Soil No. 6.) 



Barosmas, above ten species of pretty plants, separated 

 from Diosma. B. serrat 'if olia, white; B. pulcliella, purple ; 

 B. fcetidissima, blush ; B. odordta, white ; and B. dioica, 

 pink, are the finest. (Soil No. 8.) 



Beaufdrtias, only two species. B. decussdta is splendid ; 

 the flowers come out of the wood with stamens in fine parcels, 

 colour bright scarlet, foliage decussate, oval, and many-nerved, 

 bloom persistent and much esteemed. B. spdrsa, in flower 

 similar to the other; colour light pink, foliage scattered, both 

 of easy culture, and flower abundantly. (Soil No. 8.) 



Begonias, a few species, are desirable for the green-house 

 especially. B. fuchsioides, scarlet; B. incarndta, flesh-colour, 

 and blooms during winter; B. zebrina, zebra-like, very pretty; 

 B. manicata, pink flowered; B. odorata, sweet scented. They 

 are of a soft woody nature, and should be kept in the warmest 

 part of the green-house, and never syringed over head during 

 winter. (Soil No. 9.) 



Benthdmia fragifera. This beautiful new plant will make 

 a splendid hardy evergreen for the Southern States, where it 

 will produce its pale white flowers in July, and an abundance 

 of fruit very much like strawberries, of a slight acid taste : 

 but we are doubtful if it will fruit in our green-houses unless 

 greatly encouraged. (Soil No. 9.) 



Bletia hyacintlnna is the only species belonging to the 

 green-house, once known as Cymbtdium hyacinthhium. It 

 is herbaceous, and before it begins to grow, divide the root, 

 putting the best into six-inch pots. The spike of flowers are 



