Babiana 



( 98 ) 



Bseekea 



sunny places in thegarden, in light, well-drained soil. 

 If planted in autumn, they will need protection 

 with straw or other litter, or cocoanut fibre. Plant 

 the corms with the crown 3" below the surface. 

 Remove the covering in March. For pots plant 

 from October to January in 4" pots, using five 

 bulbs to a pot, or more if a larger size is used. 

 Loam, leaf soil, and silver sand form a good com- 

 post. Plunge the pots in ashes in a cold frame, 

 and give no water until some growth is made. 

 When they have made growth they may be re- 

 moved to the greenhouse, or where they are to 

 bloom. Give plenty of air and water when 

 growing. 



Principal Species : 



[Note. For ordinary purposes mixed Babianas, 



k . 

 BAIUANA STUICTA. 



which can be bought from the bulb dealer, are 

 quite good enough.] 



disticha, 6", Je., Jy., bl. A pretty, fragrant 

 species, close to plicata, and described as a var. 

 of it by some botanists. 



ringens, 8", Je., sc. A very handsome and effec- 

 tive plant. 



stricta, 9", My., wh., bl. A valuable species (see 

 figure), of which there are several vars, e.g. angusti- 

 folia, bl. ; rubro-cyanea, bl., crim. ; sulphurea, pale 

 yel. ; and villosa, crim. 



Other Species : 



plicata, 6", Je., bl. socotrana, 4", Sep., bl. 



sambucina, 9'', My., pur. teuuiflora, 6", Je., pur. 



BABINGTONIA. 



A genus of pretty evergreen greenhouse shrubs 

 (ord. Myrtacese), very close to Bfeckea, indeed in- 

 cluded in that genus by some botanists. Increased 

 by cuttings of the tips of the young shoots, placed 

 under a bell-glass and kept close. Equal parts of 

 loam and peat, with a little sand, suit. Pinching 

 must be resorted to in order to induce a bushy 

 and free-flowering habit. If this little attention is 

 not given the plants are apt to be very straggling 

 and to bear but few flowers. Slight shade is 

 necessary during the summer months, but Babing- 

 tonias must never be coddled. 



Principal Species : 



CamphorosmEe, T, sum., grh., pk., wh. 



BACCHARIS (syn. MOLINA). 



Hardy, greenhouse, or stove shrubs or herbs (ord. 

 Composite), of no particular horticultural value. 

 They are of very easy cultivation. Cuttings of the 

 young shoots strike in spring if placed in a propa- 

 gating frame. Two parts of good loam, one 

 part of leaf soil, and a little sand, are suitable. 



Principal Species : 



halimifolia, Groundsel Tree, 6' to 12', Jy., hdy., 

 wh. 



Other Species :-- 



alata, ;>', Dec., grh., yel. glutiuosa,3', Aug.,st.,wh. 

 conferta, Jy., wh. marginalis, 'A', Jy., wh. 



BACHELOR S BUTTONS (*ee HAN- 



UNCULUS ACUIS FL. PL., and ACOXITIFOLIA EL. PL.) 



BACKHOUSIA. 



Evergreen greenhouse shrubs (ord. Myrta.cese), 

 propagated by cuttings of the half ripened shoots 

 taken in April and struck in snnd under abell-gliiss 

 in a temperature of 55. Equal portions of fibrous 

 loam and peat, with sand, will make a suitable- 

 compost. Myrtifolia, 10' to !(>', May, white, is a 

 pretty greenhouse plant. 



BACTRIS. 



Handsome stove Palms (ord. Palmfe), of prickly 

 growth and rather slender habit. From the 

 gardener's point of view the plants are of the 

 greatest value when young, as then they are most 

 ornamental. They are increased by suckers, which 

 are thrown up very freely from the healthy older 

 plants ; also by seeds, which are not easy to obtain. 

 Two-thirds of fibrous loam, and one-third of well- 

 rotted cow manure, suit. The plants revel in heat 

 and the free use of the syringe. 



Principal Species : 

 caryotarfolia, 30'. 



major, 25'. 



Maraja, Maraja Palm, 



30' 'to 50'. 

 pcctinata, 15'. 



pallidispina, leaves very 



spiny (KI/II. flavispina). 

 Other Species : 

 baculifera, 30'. 

 cuspidata, 20'. 

 flavispina (see pallidis- 

 pina). 



B^ECKEA. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (ord. Myrtacerc) of 

 no great value. Propagated by cuttings of t-ps of 

 the young shoots, taken in spring, and rooted 

 beneath a bell-glass in a cool frame. Loam, leaf 

 soil, and sandy peat, in equal parts, suit. 



Principal Species : 



diosmifolia, 1' to 2', Aug. to Oct., grh., wh. 



Bacazia (see liarnadesla). 



Badger's Bane (see Aconitum mcloctonum). 



