SWEET-SMELLING PLANTS 



15 



rooted, and originally natives of Central America. Skilful 

 hybridisers have done much of late years towards improving the 

 flowers of this beautiful class, but attention does not seem to have 

 been given to the point of scent, and the few varieties that possess 

 this attraction, so far as we know them, are the following : — B. 

 odorata, B. siiaveohns, B. fidgens, B. discolor, B. Veitchi, B. Marechal 

 Neil, B. fragrant rose, and B. Baumannii ; and as this latter variety 

 is being grown in large quantities on the Continent, we shall, no 

 doubt, soon find its unique fragrance imparted to the newer kinds 

 in the whole class. They are grand subjects for table decoration, 

 baskets, and cut flowers. For bedding out, also, they are superb, 

 and are now to be found in gardens by thousands. Their brilliant 

 flowers have a most telling efi'ect, and neither rain nor sun appears 

 to affect them, and they continue blooming till cut off" by frost. 



Bejaria racemosa (Sweet-scented Bejaria). — A tender evergreen shrub 

 from the moist regions of Central America. The mauve flowers 

 that are borne at the end of the branches somewhat resemble the 

 bloom of the Rhododendron, and are very fragrant and handsome. 



Benincasa. — A genus of herbaceous cucurbitaceous tropical climbers, 

 with hairy musk-scented leaves, largely grown in the East. 



Berberis {Barherry).— A geim^ of ornamental shrubs, originally from 

 the East, with flowers in spring and berries in autumn ; the odour 

 of the flowers is pleasant at a distance, being very powerful 

 when near. B. vidgaris, a deciduous shrubby plant, with small 

 but strongly-scented flowers ; it is very thorny, and useful as a 

 hedge plant. B. aquifolia is an elegant evergreen variety, and 

 so is B. didcis, which bears sweet fruit in addition to delicious 

 flowers ; these varieties are very ornamental in flower-gardens. B. 

 Nepalensis is a stately member of the family, with its golden 

 blossoms, profusely overlapping the foliage during the early 

 months of the year. 



Bergamot. See Monarda didyma. 



Bergera Koenigi. — The Curry leaf tree of India, where the natives 

 flavour their curries with its aromatic fragrant leaves. 



Bidens odorata. — A Mexican annual, with white fragrant flowers. 



Bignonia {Trumpet-Floioer). — A genus of elegant climbing plants, in- 

 troduced chiefly from Central America, where they form objects of 

 great beauty in the tropical forests by their enormous growth and 

 clusters of beautiful bloom. Many of the species are delightfully 

 perfumed, whilst others are wanting in this attraction. The 

 variety Radicans will thrive in this country, but most of them 

 require protection from our cold seasons. B. suaveolens and 

 B. suberosa are Indian trees with deliciously scented flowers. 



