MY SHRUBS 27 
Bowkeria gerardiana deserves greater praise and attention. 
From South Africa it comes with snow-white flowers, shaped like 
a calceolaria, that sparkle forth in July. This rare and beautiful 
shrub is recommended to all who dwell in the south and can give 
it wall space. Indeed, Mr. Wyndham Fitzherbert, who probably 
possesses the finest specimen in England, will show it to you seven 
feet high upon a southern slope far from all shelter. But he is a 
magician, and we common men can only admire without seeking 
to emulate his feats of horticulture. Brachyglottis repanda attained 
to magnificent dimensions with him, too, as I remember ; but this 
attractive New Zealander will probably puzzle you to satisfy. 
Brachysema acuminatum is a very beautiful but tender shrub 
for a snug wall. The flowers are rich scarlet, like a small clianthus ; 
the foliage is bright silver. This New Hollander must be treated 
with great respect out-of-doors, but it is well worthy of a cold 
house—in peat or sand with perfect drainage. 
Of Boronia, named by Dr. Sibthorpe, after his faithful servant, 
Francis Boroni, who perished at Athens, that fragrant and delicious 
treasure, B. megastigma, thrives in some Devon gardens. But 
only lucky people, with whom Providence is on the best of terms, 
can show it really prosperous to you out of doors. I have tried 
and failed, yet I shall give Providence another chance to offer a 
helping hand in this matter. I hope good Boroni had a spike 
of the shrub in his hand when he lost his life, and I should 
like to think that it scented many a holy place of old, when the 
Golden Age offered flowers to its goddesses. As B. megastigma 
comes from South-Western Australia, however, this dream seems 
vain. But when did it settle at Athens ? 
Bouvardia triphylla, with most brilliant scarlet corymbs, a 
