36 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



evergreens, some of which are used for the shrubbery border, while 

 sempervirens suffruticosa, the common Box edging, is used for 

 bordering beds. It harbours slugs, and likewise impoverishes the 

 soil, but its old-world appearance is in its favour, and causes people 

 to plant it in spite of its drawbacks. It looks particularly appro- 

 priate in old Dutch gardens, with Yew hedges and trained trees. 

 When allowed to get scraggy and gappy it is not, however, pleasing. 

 Young rooted pieces should be planted against a straight edge of 

 soil cut down with the spade in spring or autumn, and soil trodden 

 against them. Clipping should be done annually in June. 



Brachycome (Swan River Daisy). See Annuals Half-hardy. 



Brake Fern, Pteris aquilina. 



Bramble or Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus). See Fruit. 



Brassavola (brassavo-la, after Signor Brassavola. Ord. Orchida- 

 ceae). A genus of Orchids, thriving either in pots, on blocks, or in 

 baskets if given a warm house. Peat and Sphagnum moss should 

 be used for compost. The plants will require a great deal of water 

 while growing, but very little while at rest. Digbyana, green and 

 purple, fringed lip, is the most important species. It has been 

 crossed with Cattleyas, giving the new genus Brassocattleya, of 

 which Baron, Cliftoni, Holfordi, and Langleyensis are good forms; 

 and with Laelias, resulting in the genus Brassolaelia, of which some 

 of the best representatives are Clio, Helen, and Veitchii. There is 

 even the tri-genus Brassocattlaelia, with rare and expensive members 

 such as F^owleri, Lawrencei, and Wigani. 



Brassia (brass-ia, after Mr. Brass. Ord. Orchidaceae). An in- 

 teresting genus of Orchids, of which the species verrucosa is the 

 most popular. It is suitable for culture in a large, deep Orchid pan 

 in a warm house, and produces its yellow, green, and brown flowers 

 in spring. Being borne on arching spikes they are very graceful. 

 Peat and Sphagnum moss make a suitable compost. When in 

 growth and bloom regular supplies of water are necessary, but the 

 plants need little while at rest. 



Brassica (brass-ica, from bresic, cabbage (Celtic). Ord. Cruci- 

 ierae). This is the generic name for Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels 

 Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Colewort, Kohl Rabi, Rape, Savoy, 

 Swede, and Turnip. The Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, 

 Cabbage, Cauliflower, Colewort, and Savoy have all sprung from 

 the wild Cabbage, Brassica oleracea, which grows wild on parts of 

 the sea-shores of Great Britain. See Kitchen Garden. 



Bravoa (bravo-a, after Sefior Bravo. Ord. Amaryllideae) . A 

 small genus of greenhouse bulbs, of which the principal species is 

 geminiflora, which produces spikes of orange flowers in July. It 

 may be given the general bulb treatment. See Bulbs. 



Breastwood. Fruit-growers generally speak of the summer 

 shoots which spring from the front of the main branches of flat- 

 trained trees as breastwood, but some use the term to indicate small 

 shoots generally, and speak of front shoots as fore-right shoots. 

 Such frontal shoots may be cut out. Only the side shoots should 



