Bowenia 



( 135 ) 



Brachysema 



Divisions having two or three good eyes quickly 

 root if placed iu conditions similar to the top- 

 cuttings. 



Soil. Two parts of loam, two parts of leaf soil, 

 and one part of decomposed cow manure, with 

 plenty of sand. 



Other Cultural Points. As soon as the cuttings 

 are rooted they should be grown steadily on in 

 gentle heat. Several shifts will be required, hut in 

 no case should a big shift be given. Pinching must 

 he resorted to in order to induce a bushy growth. 

 Syringing is beneficial in the earlier stages, but 

 unnecessary in the later. Old plants may be shaken 

 out of the soil, after the pruning, and grown on 

 for an indefinite number of years if desired. Or 

 they may be planted out in prepared borders and 

 lifted and potted in the autumn. After flowering 

 is complete the plants should be partially dried oil, 

 to ripen the wood prior to the annual pruning. 



The chief insect pests which attack the cuttings 

 are thrips and red spider, and light fumigations 

 must be given. Mealy bug and green fly attack 

 the older plants, in addition to the two first named 

 l-.-t s. Dusting with tobacco powder is a deterrent 

 to the lly. 



Principal Species : 

 augustii'olia, 2', Sep., pale 



red. 



tlavu, II', Hch., yel. 

 Hnmboldtii corymbiflorn, 



:!', uut., win., wh., 



largo and sweet. 



jasmim'flora, 2', win., wh., 



sweet. 



leiantha, 2', Jy., Xov., sc. 

 longiflora (we Houstonia 



longiflora). 

 triphylla, 2' t o y, sc. (gyn. 



Jacquiui). 



multiflora (see Cavanil- 



lesii). 

 versicolor, 2' to 3', Jy., 



Sep., sc., yel. 



Other Species : 

 Cavuuillcsii. IV. My., red 



(,^////. multiflora). 

 hirtclla, pk. or red. 

 Juuquini (xcr triphylla). 



Garden Hybrids a Selection : 



* Alfred Xeuner, double lougiflora flammea, blush 



wh. or flesh pk. 

 Brilliant, crim. 

 *l)a/xler, sc. 



"Hogarth, sc. 

 Hogarth ttore pleno, sc. 



* Maiden's Blush, blush ro. 

 President Garfield, 



double pk. 

 Purity, wh. 

 *Vrielandii, wh. 

 * Select for six varieties. 



BOWENIA. 



Curious greenhouse plants (ord. Cycadaceas) with 

 a Kern-like appearance. They are closely allied to 

 Zamia, and answer to the same treatment as that 

 accorded to Cycas. Spectabilis has a short, stout, 

 cylindrical trunk, and the leaflets (pinme) are very 

 thick and leathery. 



BOWIEA (OP HAWORTH). 



A rather curious genus of plants (ord. Liliacefe), 

 with twining stems and a bulbous rootstock. They 

 are really greenhouse subjects, hut will do out of 

 doors, except in severe weather. They may be 

 increased by seeds or offsets, and like a light, well- 

 drained, rich soil. They do best when planted in 

 a specially prepared border. Volubilis has thick 

 and fleshy, but narrow, leaf-like twigs, and is a 

 graceful-looking plant. Now included under Aloe. 



BOX EDGING. 



Dwarf plants of Box (liuxus sempervirens snffni- 

 ticosa) are suitable for forming edging for walks 

 and flower beds ; but they have some drawbacks, as 

 they exhaust the soil, and are excellent hiding places 



(see Arbour), 



for slugs. Small rooted pieces may be planted in the 

 autumn or early spring against the perpendicular 

 side of a narrow trench, taken out along the edge 

 of the walk or bed where the Box is to grow. Box 

 edges are frequently spoiled by neglect in clipping, 

 and this operation should be performed in June. 

 When the edges get sparse they should be lifted, 

 and the roots divided. Work in a little fresh soil 

 before replanting. 



BRABEIUM. (AFRICAN ALMOND.) 

 Greenhouse evergreens (ord. Proteacese), thriv- 

 ing under the same conditions as Ranksias. Stel- 

 latifolium, 15', August, has white, fragrant flowers. 

 It is a native of the Cape, where the Natural Order 

 Proteaceae finds its headquarters. 



BRACHYCOME. (SWAX RIVER DAISY.) 



Charming little half-hardy annuals or perennials 

 (ord. Composites) which delight in a sandy soil 

 and a sunny situation, and are very suitable for 

 small beds or for edgings or groups in the border. 

 They can be sown under glass in March and trans- 

 planted, or in the open in April or May where they 

 are to bloom. The best-known species is iberidi- 

 folia, which grows about 1' high, and has 

 single, Daisy-like, blue or white flowers. There is 

 also a perennial species for the greenhouse, named 

 diversifolia. It bears white flowers in May, and is 

 evergreen ; it is propagated by cuttings or seeds. 



BRACHYGLOTTIS. 



Half-hardy trees or dwarf shrubs (ord. Com- 

 posite). Propagation is by seeds and cuttings in 

 spring. Soil, peat and loam in equal parts, with 

 sand, and plenty of drainage. Repanda, the only 

 species, was introduced a few years ago from New 

 Zealand. It promises to be a good seaside tree 

 for the south coast. 



BRACHYLJENA. 



Evergreen greenhouse shrubs (ord. Composite) 

 closely related to Baccharis. Natives of South 

 Africa. Propagated by cuttings of the half- 

 matured shoots in sandy soil, in a close frame. A 

 mixture of peat and loam, with sand, is a suitable 

 compost for the older plants. 



Principal Species : 

 dentata, sum. , yel. , foliage iieriuf olia, 2 ' , Aug. , Nov. , 



rusty when young. yel. 



BRACHYOTUM. 



Evergreen bushy shrubs (ord. Melastomacea;), 

 propagated by cuttings in heat under a hell-glass, 

 and succeeding in peat and loam in a stove. Con- 

 fertum, November, purple, is the only species 

 introduced. 



BRACHYPTERYS. 



A little known genus (ord. Malpighiace:e) of 

 climbing shrubs. They require a stove tempera- 

 ture, and do well in loim, leaf mould, peat, and 

 sand. 



Principal Species : 



borealis, 6', Jy., yel. 



BRACHYSEMA. 



Evergreen shrubs (ord. Leguminosae) of climbing 

 or sub-climbing habit. Latifolium is the best of 

 the genus, and when well treated it makes an 

 elegant roof climber. The plants may lie increased 

 by cuttings of the half-matured shoots in summer, 



Brachychiton (see Sterrulia,). 



