November 20, 18S9.] 



Garden and Forest. 



557 



In their vegetative characters, time of flowering, duration of 

 the flowering season, as well as in the form, size and colors of 

 their flowers, Bromelias are quite as varied as Orchids. 

 There is, of course, a great difference between the two fami- 

 lies, yet as plants of decorative value Bromelias are almost 

 equal to Orchids. To persons who have learned to despise 

 the former from having seen a few ill-grown examples, such 

 as are often met with, this may sound like heresy. Unfortu- 

 nately I cannot say, go to Liege and be converted, as when 

 Professor Morren died the plants were sold, a large numl)er 

 of them having been purchased for Kew. But there are good 

 collections of Bromelias in many continental gardens ; 

 Makoy & Co., of Liege, have an exceptionally large and rich 

 nursery collection. In addition, they have also a private col- 

 lection of these plants, kept solely for their own enjoyment, 

 and not for trade pm-poses, a fact which speaks for itself. At 

 Kew the collection of Bromelias is the richest by far ever 

 seen in England. There are always a good many kinds in 

 flower, and it is remarkable how manv visitors take an interest 



considerable, so many of the genera of this order being largely 

 represented in gardens, and, as is usually the case, their history 

 and nomenclature were all in confusion until Mr. Baker's 

 book made all things plain. It is very agreeable news to bulb 

 fanciers to hear that Mr. Baker will soon issue a similar hand- 

 book on Iridea. The allied order, LiliacecE, he dealt with some 

 years ago in the Journal of the Litmaajt Society. In the 

 interests of horticulture an appeal might be made to Mr. Baker 

 to give us a handbook of Liliaccce, uniform witii that on the 

 Amaryllis order. The Linttceaii Journal is not easily acces- 

 sible to gardeners. At any rate some of the principal horti- 

 cultural genera of LiliacecB might be dealt with in this way. 

 (jratitude displays itself by asking for more ! 



The Bromelia boolc contains descriptions of over 800 spe- 

 cies, or more than double the number estimated by Bentham 

 as recently as 1883, and this number will, Mr. Baker thinks, 

 fall far short of what will ultimately be found. 



The number of genera admitted is thirty-one. These are 

 divided into three tribes, (i.) Bromeliece; ovary inferior, fruit 







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Fit:;. 144. — Begonia Triomplie de Lenioine. — See page 556. 



in and admire them. Still, fashion rules. No one has taken 

 a fancy to Bromelias and horticulture loses in consequence. 

 Fifty years ago hardly any one grew Orchids. It was not until 

 the Duke of Devonshire, on seeing Oncidiuni Papilio in flower 

 at Chiswick, was so struck with its beauty that he determined 

 to build houses for and collect them, that the cultivation of 

 Orchids received any attention from amateurs. The Duke set 

 the fashion, which, once started, grew rapidly. Orchids 

 deserve all their popularity ; Bromelias deserve a great deal 

 more than they enjoy. 



Mr. John Gilbert Baker, of the Herbarium Kew, has been 

 for many years identified with this family. Whilst Morren 

 lived Mr. Baker was content to be thought second to him 

 in a knowledge of Bromelias. Now, however. Baker is the 

 only acknowledged authority, and his title to be considered so 

 is unmistakably shown in the " Handbook of Bromeliacece" 

 which he has just published.* The book is uniform with tlrose 

 already published by him on the "Fern-Allies" and the 

 "Amaryllideag." The value of the latter to horticulturists is 



* George Bell & Sons, Yorli Street, Covent Garden. Price, five shillings. 



indehiscent. (2.) Pltcair niece; fruit a three-valved capsule, 

 seeds not funicled. (3.) TillatidsiecEj fruit a three-valved cap- 

 sule, superior, seeds funicled. A considerable proportion of 

 the genera are unrepresented in gardens, having apparently 

 small claims to beauty. Of the genera cultivated or worth 

 cultivating, the following are the largest in number of species 

 and the most striking in floral characters : 



Karatus. — (Thirty-six species.) These are mostly robust 

 plants with long ensiform, channeled, prickly edged leaves ; 

 flowers arranged in a large dense globose head and sur- 

 rounded by liracts and leaves which are often very brilliant in 

 color. In large tropical houses they are most effective. At 

 Kew when in flower they attract great attention, and even 

 when not in bloom they are ornamental. 



Cryptanthus. — (Twelve species.) These are usually 

 remarkable for their prettily variegated leaves. C. hivittatus, 

 C. Makoyanus, C. Lubbersianus, C. zonatus and C. Bueckeri Are 

 delightful little foliage plants, easily cifltivatcd and always 

 attractive. The flowers of this genus are white and not 

 ornamental. 



