CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 381 



Aloe. 



Dr. Voigt states that there were as many as a hundred species 

 of Aloe formerly in Dr. Carey's garden at Serampore, but that 

 most had died, and that he could enumerate no more than forty- 

 two. About a dozen or fourteen species is the largest number I 

 believe now to be met with in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. 



Some two or three have very ornamental leaves, and look 

 handsome in pots ; these, if left out in the Bains, are very apt 

 to perish from water lodging between the leaves, and causing 

 them to rot at the point of junction. Many are easily propa- 

 gated by inserting a leaf in a pot of damp sand. A light porous 

 soil, through which the water given them is soon passed off, is 

 manifestly that best suited to them. 



1. A. Abyssinica. A very large species, growing in the open 

 ground in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens, and very showy 

 when in full blossom in January and February, with its large 

 flower-stem bearing innumerable small bright vermilion flowers. 



2. A. Indica. A common plant throughout the country ; leaves 

 thorn edged, thick, soft, pale-green, crossed with lines of spots ; 

 bears dull red flowers. From the peculiarity of its foliage a 

 pleasing variety among other potted plants. 



3. A. intermedia. A small handsome plant, with neat, clean- 

 cut, strap-like leaves, speckled with green and white. 



4. A. nigricans. Exceedingly ornamental for its polished, 

 black-green, well-cut leaves, of strap-like form ; bears in March 

 flowers varying from pale-green to lurid red. 



5. A. attenuata. A small plant with very succulent and 

 curiously-crimped leaves ; bears in April small, greenish, insig- 

 nificant flowers. 



6. A. saponaria. A small plant with curious, thick, short 

 succulent leaves, crossed with dotted white lines. 



Yucca. 

 ADAM'S-NEEDLE. 



The species of Yucca known in Europe amount to as many as 

 thirty. The following only, I believe, are those to be met with 

 in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. 



1. Y. aloifolia. A large plant, common everywhere in India, 

 and familiar for its formidable array of long, hard, flattened 



