231 
Bromeliacee (1889) in great measure on the Kew collection of 
living plants, supplemented by the unique collection of drawings 
also tmn ed by Professor Morren and acquired by the Bentham 
Trustees for the Kew Library. 
For many years sen collection of Bromeliacee was grown in the 
Palm House. The a mosphere was, however, too dry for their 
successful ili vatios. and in 1883 they were removed to the 
Stove (No. IX.) and Victoria House (No. X.) 
CAPE BULBS. 
The orders Hemodoracee, Iridee, Amaryllidew, and Liliacec, 
though widely dispersed, are represented in especial profusim in 
South Africa, and the species from that part of the world are 
ERE often spoken of in cultivation as * Cape Bu Ibs. 2 The 
ixth volume of the Flora Capensis is entirely devoted to their 
deho 
tthe instance of the Royal Society the practice was Sene 
in 1772 of ice out ere of plants to foreign countries 
from Kew. Francis Masson, in whose honour the genus Mdélonia 
was named, twice pret the Cipe of Good Hope for this purpose ; 
eus from 1774-6; ; and secondly, from 1786-95. He “collected and 
t home a profusion ou pla nts unknown till that time to the 
botante gardens in Europe.’ 
James see ie e (commemorated i in Bowiea) collected at the Cape for 
-23. EI 
Kew from e introduced amongst numerous other 
plants the wall-imown AS. via nobilis 
The method of growing Cape bu Ibs in this vector Ret red 
adopted M Kewis thus d described by Smith (Records, pp. 312, 313):— 
“The garden collection of bulbs were grown in glaze taie called 
the bulb borders, attached to the fronts of Tal Botany Bay, Cape, 
and Palm Houses, the length of the whole being 234 feet, width 
5 feet. They received heat from the flue that heated the house 
through openings left in the brickwork, end in severe winters they 
were protected by shutters. In these borders the principal of 
Masson’s and Bowie’s collections were well maintained for many 
years.” 
This system, which has been since reverted to partially, is 
admitted the best when the bulbs are planted out. But for the 
ulk of the collection it is more convenient.to grow them in pots. 
When at rest these are kept in a private house (No. XVII. ©.), 
from enm when in flower, they are removed to the Cape House 
(No. 
No boron statistics are available as to the number of 
species of tender bulbous plants aig: at REÍ ares at 
Kew. But the numbers enumerated in the present list are :— 
Hemodoracee, 28; Irideæ, 221; Swat gHdss, 488; tie 512; 
making a total of 1249, 
YuCCAS, ALOES, AND AGAVES. 
needle ”) ons to the order Liliacee Agave to ri lieu. 
In habit they have all many points of. resemblance uud mem the 
majority flourish under similar cultural conditions. Hence Agave, 
_ though it has no near botanical affinity with Joe, is Mer ealled 
