MareJiJ] green-house — repotting. 203 



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

 and contains many seeds. A cone of B. grdndis in our pos- 

 session weighs one pound and twelve ounces, and contains 

 about one hundred and seven seeds. Those most admired for 

 the foliage are, B. deiitdta, B. ^mula, B. serrdfo,B. lati/olia, 

 B. grdndis, which is the largest. B. specidsa has the longest 

 foliage. B. Cunnwghdmn, B. spinidose, B. jmlluddsa 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 honor of Sir Joseph 

 Banks, a distinguished promoter of the study of natural his- 

 tory. (Soil No. 6.) 



Barosmas, above ten species of pretty plants, separated 

 from Diosma. B. serraii/olia, white; B. jiulchUla, purple; 

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

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



Beau/drtias, only two species. B. decussdta is splendid ; 

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

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

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

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

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



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

 especially. B. fuchsioides, scarlet; B. incarndta, flesh color, 

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

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

 warmest part of the green-house. (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 hyacintlmna is the only species belonging to the 

 green-house, once known as Cymhidium hyacinthinum. It 

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

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

 hyacinth-like, and of a beautiful purple, flowering from April 

 to July. (Soil No. 9.) 



