Blitum 



(128) 



Boea 



woodwork of the house at the top, and the blind 

 is let up and down the roof from the bottom by 

 means of pulleys and stout cords. It is advisable 

 to provide supports above the glass level for the 

 rollers to run on, so as to allow space for the circu- 

 lation of air between the blinds and the glass. 

 When blinds are used for the protection of wall 

 fruit trees in the early spring, they may be hung 

 from the coping and made to run up and down on 

 poles placed in a slanting position, so that the 

 material, when down, hangs clear of the trees. 

 Where it is desirable to fix blinds at the ends and 

 sides of glass structures, they should be suspended 

 at the top and run up and down on light wooden 

 rollers. 



BLITUM. 



Hardy annuals belonging to the Goosefoot 

 family (urd. Chenopodiaceje), sometimes grown 

 for colouring puddings. The clusters of flowers 

 develop into succulent, red masses, resembling a 

 Strawberry or Bramble ; hence the names of Straw- 

 berry Elite and Strawberry Spinach. Plants may 

 be raised from seeds in any ordinary garden soil. 

 The genus is referred to Chenopodium by some 

 botanists. 



Principal Species : 



capitatum, 1' to 2', My., virgatum, 2', My., Sep., 



Aug., gru. grn. 



maritimum, 1' to 2', My., 



Aug., grn. 



BLOOD. 



Animal blood is valuable as a fertiliser, and may 

 be applied beneficially to Vines and fruit trees. 

 It contains about twenty per cent, of solid matter, 

 and the remainder water. It is chiefly used in 

 a dry state as manure, and may be mixed with 

 soil for forming fruit borders, and for light top- 

 dressings. 



BLOOM. 



The name popularly given to the coloured corolla 

 of flowers, or to the whole inflorescence of a plant. 

 It is also applied to the waxy excretion on the cheek 

 of the Plum, the black Grape, or the Cucumber, 

 whose appearance is greatly enhanced by the 

 retention of the bloom in perfect condition. The 

 true flowers of a plant, however, are not the popular 

 coloured corolla, but the collection of reproductive 

 organs whicli it encloses, and to effect whose 

 fertilisation the bright appearance and nectaries 

 attract various insects. 



BLOOMERIA. 



Half-hardy bulbous plants (ord. Liliacesc) allied 

 to Brevoortia and Stropholirion. They answer to 

 the same treatment as the hardy, ornamental 

 Alliums. There 'are only two species aurea, 1', 

 July, golden yellow (syn. Nothoscordum aureum) ; 

 and Cleveland!!, which is much like aurea, but 

 more slender. 



BLUMENBACHIA. 



Erect or twining herbs (ord. Loaseai) covered 

 with bristly and mostly, if not always, stinging 

 hairs. Most of them are half-hardy annuals, but 

 some are perennials. They are allied to Loasa, and 



Jilister (sen Peach). 

 Jiluodrout (see Sawjuinaria). 

 Jilti-ebells (see Sellla nntans). 

 Blueberry (see Vaccinium Myrtillus). 



though the flowers may be pretty or interesting 

 j they are bad to handle. Propagation is by 

 | seeds in a frame, and the seedlings afterwards 

 | planted out. Any well drained, friable garde u 

 | soil will suit. 



Principal Species : 



insignis, 1', Jy. to Nov., half-hdy., wh., red. 

 The stems elongate and trail upon the ground (syn. 

 Loasa palmata). 



lateritia, 20', My. to Sep., halMidy. per., red 

 , (syns. Loasa lateritia, L. coccinea, and L. auran- 

 tiaca). Requires support, and is handsome on a 

 low fence. 



multitida, 1', Jy. to Nov., lialt'-hdy. ami., greenish, 

 red, and yel. ; close to insignis. 



Other Species : 



chuquitensis, Jy., Sep., coronata, 1'.', Jy., Sep., 

 hali'-hdy. el., red, yel. lialt'-lidy. ~ bieii. (syn. 



contorta, li', Jy., Sop., Uaiophora corouata). 



half-hdy. aim., or. red, 

 gru. 



[NOTE. For Blumenbachiaof KoelerseeSoRGHUM.] 



BOBARTIA. 



Half-hardy or greenhouse herbs (ord. Iridese), 



with a fibrous rhizome, or in one case having the 



rootstock thickened and resembling a corm. The 



| leaves are slender. Flowers in one or several 



; terminal spikes. Propagation is effected by seeds, 



j and by division of the rhizomes or rootstock in 



j spring. Fibrous loam, with sufficient sand to 



make it relatively light and porous, suits. Like 



many other South African members of the order, 



the Bobartias are nearly hardy, but require the 



protection of a cool greenhouse or frame in winter. 



Principal Species : 



aphylla, 1', half-hdy., pur. (*//. Marica fili- 



wh. , pur. (sijn. Marica fonnis). 



aphylla). gladiuta, 2', Je., half- 



aurantiaca (see Homeria Inly., yel. (*.</. Murica 



aurautiaca). gliuliata) . 



filiformis, 1', half-hdy., spiithauea, 9", Je., half- 

 hdy., yel. 



BOCCONIA. (PLUME POPPY.) 



Handsome herbaceous plants or shrubs (ord. 

 Papaveracere), the herbaceous species being very 

 ornamental in the flower garden, and the shrubs 

 pleasing in the greenhouse or conservatory. The 

 herbaceous species are propagated by seeds or 

 division in spring ; and the greenhouse ones by 

 cuttings taken off with a heel in late spring and 

 struck in gentle heat under glass. The herbaceous 

 liocconias like a rich, heavy soil ; the others need 

 one of a rich but lighter character. 



Principal Species : 



cordata, 9', Jy., buff. A handsome plant, which 

 is very decorative at the back of the border, or in 

 clumps on grass (si/ns. japonica and Macleaya 

 cordiita yedoensis or jedoensis). 



microcarpa, 9', Jy., bronzy. Resembles the pre- 

 ceding, but is of even finer colouring. 



Other Species : 



frutesccus, 5', Sep., grh., intogrifolia, H', Sep., i^rli., 

 greenish. greenish. 



BCEA or B./EA. 



Greenhouse perennials (urd. Gesneracese) of con- 

 siderable decorative value, but very rarely met 

 with. They are propagated by seeds sown in 

 spring, in heat. A rich friable loam, with a third 

 of leaf soil added, suits them. 



