THE BOUVARDIA. 115 



the most peculiar as well as the richest colouring in 

 the flower. E. Crista-galli, or " cock's-comb," resembles 

 a comb in shape as well as in colour. This variety 

 should be planted at the foot of a front or south wall 

 of a dwelling-house, and nailed to it, where it will do 

 well, if it is planted in rough peat and manure, and has a 

 good drainage. It will die down every autumn unless 

 the summer's growth can be so far ripened as to endure 

 the winter by covering it up — which, however, is not at 

 all likely in this fickle climate. 



The Erythrina is a native of the Brazils, South 

 America, and the East and West Indies. In its native 

 air, which of course is one of constant heat, and which 

 drives vegetation along amazingly fast, it attains to the 

 height of 30 or 40 feet, but this can never be expected 

 in England. 



The propagation of the Erythrina is by seed, and by 

 cuttings from the crown shoots. An old crown or root 

 will throw up a number of shoots in the spriug, and as 

 soon as these are 2 or 3 inches long, take all of 

 them off except one or two, with a sharp knife, with a 

 good heel of the old wood. Trim these cuttings at the 

 base, and insert them in pots filled with sandy peat, 

 and plunge the pots in a mild heat. 



By Seed. — The seed of the Erythrina is very hard, 

 and should be soaked in warm water for a few hours 

 previous to sowing. Then sow it in fine sandy peat, 

 covering it 1 inch, and plunge the pots in a brisk 

 bottom heat. Pot off as soon as the seedlings can be 

 handled well. These seedlings will not flower under 

 three or four years. 



The Bouvardia (Cinchonaccce) . 



This is comparatively little known among amateurs, 

 except in bouquets, where it is admired for its ex- 

 quisite beauty and delicacy of tint. Why this genus 

 is so little grown I cannot tell. It cannot be on account 

 of its fickle disposition, or tenderness, nor for want 

 of beauty as a greenhouse plant, for a well- grown old 



