606 



HISTORY OF THK VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



The Yellow Rhododendron (r, cJtrysanthum), 

 is a very beautiful shrub; it is a native of Siberia, 

 but is cultivated in this country with considera- 

 ble difficulty. The leaves have an austere, bit- 

 terish taste, and have been sometimes employed 

 in medicine, especially in rheumatism; their 

 effect being stimulant and narcotic. 



The Common Species (r. ponticum), is a native 

 of Gibraltar, and was introduced into Britain 

 about the year 1763. Its native habitat is 

 marshy ground, not very elevated. There are 

 two common varieties, the blunt-leaved, and 

 myrtle-leaved; both are of easy culture. 



All the species thrive best in a peat soil, inter- 

 mixed with sand, in a moderately shaded, damp 

 situation, with an eastern or northera exposure. 

 They may be propagated by seed, by layers, or 

 by cuttings. The seed is either procured from 

 America, or saved in this country; it is of very 

 small size. Early in spring the seed is sown in 

 pans of peat earth, which are then placed in 

 the shade, and in winter, put under a cold frame 

 for protection. As soon as the plants fairly 

 come up, they must be pricked out into pots or 

 beds; and after two years, they are to be again 

 transplanted into wider spaces, where they may 

 remain till required for their final destination. 

 They commonly flower from the fourth to the 

 seventh year of their age. 



In raising from layers, the young shoots only 

 are used, which may be laid down in June and 

 July, when in full growth, or in the autumn. 

 By the former plan, a year is gained, as the 

 shoots will be rooted, and may be removed by 

 the succeeding winter or spring; although some 

 kinds require two years to form a sufficient 

 number of roots. The plants, when removed, 

 may be put into beds, and protected during the 

 first winter with mats. 



Azalea. Pentandria, monogynia,oi Linnseus. 

 This beautiful genus belongs to the rhododen- 

 dron family. Tlie flowers are very abun- 

 dant, pretty, and odoriferous. There are seve- 

 ral species, some natives of America, and others 

 of India. 



The Indian azalea is rather delicate in this 

 climate, but thrives well in pots of sandy peat 

 earth, in the green-house. Young cuttings 

 taken off close to the plant, and placed in pots 

 of sand, will root readily if plunged in a hot- 

 bed, under a bell glass. 



The American species are more hardy, and 

 thrive well in the open air, in a soil of peat and 

 sand; or when this cannot be obtained, a mixture 

 of leaf mould and sand, free from any mixture 

 of animal manure. Most of the hardy kinds 

 are well adapted for growing in pots, and for 

 forcing early in spring. The deciduous varie- 

 ties flower better than those which are half 

 evergreens. Of the nudiflora or naked-flowered, 

 there are a great many varieties. 



Andromeda. Natural family ericoe; decan- 

 dria, monogynia, of Linnseus. This is a genus 

 of neat little shrubs, with heath-like flowers; 

 cliiefly natives of the marshy grounds of America, 

 and introduced into this country about the 

 beginning of the present century. 



The moss hypnoides has the appearance of a 

 moss; is a native of Lapland, where it spreads 

 over extensive tracts of that country, adorning 

 them witli its beautiful red flowers. 



The marsh, or wild rosemary (polifolia), is 

 a native of Britain. All the species are of easy 

 culture from seed, or cuttings. As the seeds are 

 extremely small, they require to be very slightly 

 covered witli soil. 



Arbutus, or Strawberry Tree (arhutm 

 unedo). Natural family ericece; deeandria, mono- 

 gynia, of Linnteus. This is a hardy and elegant 

 looking evergreen. The leaves are oblong, lan- 

 ceolate, and serrated at the edges, the bell- 

 shaped flowers forming a depending panicle, and 

 the ripe berries, both of which are in profusion 

 together, in the end of autumn, render this 

 shrub very ornamental at that season. It is a 

 native of the South of Europe; and is also found 

 in a wild state near Killamey, in Ireland where 

 it has probably been brought originally from 

 Spain or Italy. It however flourishes there 

 in a calcareous soil, in greater luxuriance than 

 it is often to be met with in tlie woods of Italy. 

 In both countries the fruit is eaten; and in Spain, 

 both a sugar and spirit are extracted from it. 

 There are three varieties of this species, the 

 red-flowered, double-flowered, and the entire- 

 leaved. 



Some of the dwarf species of arbutus form 

 excellent rock plants. The bearberry (a. uva- 

 ursi), has already been alluded to as a medi- 

 cinal plant. 



Heaths (Eriea). Natural family erieos; 

 octandria, nionogynia, of Linnaeus. Tliis family 

 consists of a number of species of dry, brittle- 

 wooded, shrubby plants, generally with tubular 

 or bell-shaped corollas, coloured white, pale 

 bluish, pink, and scarlet. The common species, 

 so universal over the northern parts of Europe, 

 are in many barren regions most useful plants ; 

 nor, when examined minutely, are they less beau- 

 tiful, imparting, when in flower, a rich purple 

 glow to the surface of the otherwise rugged and 

 barren mountains and moors. To the poor inha- 

 bitants of tliose mountain regions, where other 

 woody substances are rare, the common ling or 

 heath affords a strong thatch to their cottages, 

 which is bound down and retained by ropes of 

 twisted heath. The walls of those huts are also 

 constructed of alternate layers of heath and 

 black earth, or clay. The hardy highlander also 

 constructs what is to him a luxurious bed, by 

 placing a quantity of cut heath with the flowers 

 uppermost. Strong ropes and wattled work are 



