THE ROSE, POME, AND DRUPE FAMILY. 457 



THE PROTEAN FAMILY (Proteacece). 



A highly variable group of evergreen shrubs or small trees, 

 principally natives of the Cape and New Holland, while a few 

 are found in South America and other places in the southern 

 hemisphere. They are represented in our gardens by the fol- 

 lowing genera : Leucadendron (Silver-tree), Protect, Grevillea, 

 Hakea, Rhopala, Lomatia, Banksia, and Dryandra. Nearly 

 all the species are best propagated by imported seeds, if these 

 can be procured, and in many cases root-cuttings in a gentle 

 bottom-heat are successful. Seeds are rarely produced in 

 cultivation, but this is doubtless in many cases owing to the 

 absence of the necessary insects to fertilise the flowers. If a 

 flower of almost any Protead be examined, the form and 

 arrangement or partial confinement of the peculiar style seems 

 especially formed to secure cross-fertilisation. Any species of 

 Grevillea will illustrate what is here meant. M. Viviand-Morel, 

 of the Lyons Botanic Garden, has succeeded in cleft-grafting 

 many species of Grevillea, including G. Manglesii, G. Trobei, 

 G. longifolia, G. Bauerii, and others, on seedlings of the com- 

 mon G. robusta as a stock. The operation should be per- 

 formed in heat under a cloche or close case in the propagating- 

 house, the early spring months being the best time (see ' Revue 

 Hort.,' 1868, p. 49). The rare and beautiful Embothrhim 

 coccineum from Lima may be propagated by root-cuttings, or by. 

 grafting cuttings on thick bits of its own roots. 



THE ROSE, POME, AND DRUPE FAMILY (Rosacece). 



This order contains species among which may be found 

 some of the most useful as well as the most beautiful of all 

 plants. The Rose itself has long been styled the " Queen of 

 Flowers ; " and while artists have vainly attempted to paint her 

 blushes, poets have rivalled each other in singing her praises. 

 In this sternly practical age, however, the rosaceous fruit-trees 

 receive perhaps the most attention in our gardens attention 

 which they richly deserve. To these belong the Apple, Pear, 

 Quince, Medlar, and other pomaceous or Pome-like fruits; 

 while in the Drupe-bearing section (stone-fruits) we have Plums, 

 Peaches, Nectarines, Almonds, Cherries, and Apricots; another 

 section being represented by the berried fruits, Strawberries, 

 Raspberries, and Blackberries (some fine cultivated forms of 

 which exist in American gardens). Among the most con- 



