AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



163 



GAR 



a handsome shrub, with dark green leathery 

 leaves, and catkins of yellowish green flow- 

 ers in clusters near the tips of the branches, 

 produced from November till February. It 

 grows from five to ten feet high, and is very 

 ornamental in winter. 



Garrya'ceee. A tribe of Cornacece. 



Gas Lime. This is the refuse lime thrown out 

 from the gas houses, to which has been as- 

 cribed great qualities, not only as a fertilizer 

 but, at the same time, as an insect destroyer. 

 We much doubt the last quality ascribed to 

 it, and know that it is not only worthless as a 

 fertilizer, but that its use, particularly when 

 it has been used fresh, is most injurious to 

 vegetation, and would therefore advise 

 strongly against its use on land for any pur- 

 pose. It is, however, an excellent material 

 for garden walks. Mixed with its own bulk 

 or even double its bulk of sifted ashes, cov- 

 ered with a slight sprinkling of brown sand or 

 gravel, to deaden the color, well watered, and 

 heavily rolled until it is quite solid, it makes 

 a walk that if properly drained, will not be 

 injured by frost, will last for years, and is 

 doubly valuable, inasmuch that no weeds will 

 grow on it. 



Gas Plant. Dictamnus Fraxinella. 



Gas Tar or Coal Tar. This has been used to a 

 considerable extent as a preservative, on 

 wood-work such as benches, gutters, posts, 

 and other parts of green-house structures. 

 We are inclined to believe it is of very little 

 value for that purpose, unless for gutters or 

 other outside wood-work, and then only if it 

 is put on annually, so as to form a skin or 

 coating to prevent the penetration of moist- 

 ure. Its use inside is often fraught with dan- 

 ger, particularly whenever exposed to a high 

 temperature, say 100 degrees, as a gas is 

 evolved that is quickly destructive to plants. 

 A not unusual blunder in putting hot-water 

 pipes in the green-house or grapery is to paint 

 them with coal tar; and many fall into this 

 error every season, in spite of all the warn- 

 ings given. When the hot-water pipes have 

 been painted with coal tar, just as soon as the 

 pipes are heated up by firing, gas is emitted 

 most destructive to plants, which is seen in 

 the showers of falling leaves and flowers, 

 after a few hours of firing. When anyone 

 has been unfortunate enough to fall into this 

 blunder, thure is no remedy but to take down 

 the pipes and build strong fires under them 

 sufficient to drive out every particle of the 

 gas tar. We have seen every imaginable 

 remedy tried, but all was of no avail ; for the 

 tar penetrates through the pores of the metal, 

 and though the surface is scraped entirely 

 clean, the gas is given out on the application 

 of heat just as bad as if the surface had not 

 been scraped. So that, as we have before 

 said, there is no known remedy except the 

 troublesome and expensive one of taking the 

 pipes down, and burning the tar out of them, 

 which is always effectual if properly done. 



Gaste'ria. ' From gaster, a belly; alluding to 

 the swollen base of the flowers. Nat. Ord. 

 LiliacecB. 



A somewhat extensive genus of succulent 

 green-house plants, from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, allied to the Aloe, which they closely 

 resemble, and requiring the same treatment. 



GAZ 



The flowers of most of the species are bright 

 scarlet or red, and very showy. 



Gastrolo'bium. From gaster, belly, and lobos, 

 a pod ; inflated seed-pod. Nat. Ord. Legumi- 

 nosce. 



Handsome New Holland shrubs with bright 

 yellow and orange-colored blossoms, requir- 

 ing to have an airy situation in the green- 

 house through the winter, and a shaded one 

 out of doors in summer. Propagated by 

 seeds or from cuttings. Introduced in 1840. 



Gastrone'ma. From gaster, belly, and nema, a 

 filament; in reference to the filaments seen 

 below the points of insertion. Nat. Ord. 

 Amaryllidacece. 



A small genus of very pretty, but exceed- 

 ingly rare bulbs, from south Africa, closely 

 allied to Cyrtanthus. There are but two spe- 

 cies, one with white and the other with rose- 

 colored flowers. They are increased by off- 

 sets and will flower freely in the open ground 

 in summer, if planted in early spring. When 

 the foliage shows signs of ripening, take up 

 the bulbs, and keep in a dry place, free from 

 frost, during winter. Introduced in 1816. 



Gaulthe'ria. Named after Dr. Gaulthier, of 

 Quebec, Canada. Nat. Ord. Ericacece. 



Of the several species of this genus of low 

 evergreens, two are natives of this country, 

 and perfectly hardy. G. procumbens is found 

 throughout the Northern States, and univers- 

 ally known as Wintergreen. In some sec- 

 tions the berries are called Partridge Ber- 

 ries, in others Checker-berry, Deer-berry, 

 Tea-berry, etc. Wintergreen oil is distilled 

 from this plant. G. nummularioides, is an or- 

 namental hardy evergreen, with flowers re- 

 sembling those of Lily of the Valley, but fre- 

 quently tinged with rosy pink, succeeded by 

 bright scarlet fruit. It is an excellent basket 

 plant, and was introduced from the Himalayas 

 in 1884. 



Gau'ra. From gauros, superb ; in reference to 

 the beautiful flowers of some of the species. 

 Nat. Ord. Onagracece. 



A genus of tender and half-hardy annuals, 

 biennials and perennials, common in the 

 Southern States, Mexico and South America. 

 G. Lindheimeri, the only species in general 

 cultivation, is a slender, branching, herba- 

 ceous plant, bearing its long spikes of white or 

 pink flowers in great abundance throughout the 

 summer. The profusion of its spikes of 

 graceful flowers, makes it a valuable plant for 

 garden decoration ; and the flowers are very 

 useful for bouquets or vases. It is a native 

 of Texas, is propagated by cuttings or from 

 seeds. 



Gaza'nia. From gaza, richness ; in reference to 

 the large, gaudy flowers. Nat. Ord. Com- 

 positce. 



A genus of very showy, low-growing, 

 tender herbaceous plants, from the Cape of 

 Good Hope. The flowers are large, yellow, 

 or deep orange color, with almost black 

 centers, and open only in clear sunshiny 

 weather. They are very ornamental for the 

 green-house, are well adapted for out-of- 

 door culture, and are propagated readily from 

 cuttings. Introduced in 1H12. 



Gazanio'psis. From Gazania, and opsis, like ; 

 in allusion to the resemblance to Gazania. 

 Nat. Ord. Composites. 



