GETSSORHfZA. 



117 



GENTIA X NA, 



be cut off, and not broken ; as it is 

 extremely difficult to break off a 

 brancb without injuring the portion 

 that remains on the tree. 



Gathering Seeds is an interesting 

 operation ; because it carries the mind 

 forward to another year, and another 

 generation. It should not be per- 

 formed till the seed -pods are full- 

 grown, which is easily known by the 

 tendency of some of them to burst. 

 It should always be done when the 

 pods are perfectly dry, and conse- 

 quently, after the warmest part of the' 

 day rather than before it. The pods 

 after being gathered should be laid in 

 papers or in saucers, and exposed to 

 the air in a dry place in the shade ; 

 and after being thoroughly dried they 

 may either be tied up in papers with- 

 out being opened, or the seeds taken 

 out, the husks removed, and the 

 clean seeds tied up and preserved in 

 a dry place. 



Gaulthe^ria. — Ericaceae. — D warf 

 hardy shrubs, natives of North Ame- 

 rica, with flowers like the Arbutus, 

 and berry-Jike fruit which is good to 

 eat. Both the species should be 

 grown in peat, or heath mould ; they 

 are quite hardy, and will thrive under 

 the drip of trees. They are propa- 

 gated by layers. G. Shallon prefers 

 a shady situation, where its roots 

 may always be kept moist; and it 

 will grow well and produce abund- 

 ance of flowers and fruit in the closest 

 parts of London. 



Gau v ra. — OnagracecB. — Curious 

 hardy annual and biennial flowers, 

 natives of North America, nearly 

 allied to Clarkia, and requiring only 

 the usual culture of their respective 

 kinds. — See Annuals and Bien- 

 nials. 



Geissorht za. — IridacetB. — Tile 

 Root. Beautiful little bulbous plants, 

 which were formerly considered to be- 

 long to Ixia. G. Rocheana, the 

 Plaid Ixia, is particularly beautiful; 



and. the whole plant is not above six 

 inches high. The bulbs are not larger 

 than a pea. All the species are na- 

 tives of the Cape, and require a little 

 protection during winter, though more 

 from heavy rains than frost, if the 

 bulbs are left in the ground at that 

 season. If, however, they have been 

 planted on a dry sandy bank, they 

 may be left without any covering. 

 All the species, from their low stature 

 and the brilliancy of their flowers, 

 look exceedingly well in pots. In 

 this case they should be grown in 

 sand and peat, or very sandy loam, 

 and the pots should be well drained, 

 with cinders. 



Gelse v mium. — Apocynece. — A 

 pretty climbing evergreen shrub, gene- 

 rally kept in the greenhouse or con- 

 servatory, and generally known as 

 Bignonia sempervirens , a native of 

 South Carolina. It is grown in a 

 compost of sand and peat, and it is 

 propagated by cuttings struck under a 

 glass. 



Geni'sta. — Legumindsce. — There 

 are above fifty distinct species of 

 Genista, most of which will live in 

 the open air in British gardens, but 

 some of which are greenhouse shrubs. 

 They are all very handsome, from the 

 profusion of their bright yellow pea- 

 flowers. The greenhouse kinds should 

 be grown in peat and loam, and are 

 propagated by cuttings under a glass, 

 which should be taken off frequently 

 and wiped, or they will damp off. 



Gentian. — See Gentiana. 



Gentia'na.— Gentianacece.-- Well- 

 known plants, generally with pretty 

 flowers, and tonic properties. G. 

 acaulis is frequently used as an edging 

 plant, and it is remarkable for the 

 brilliant colour of its flowers, which 

 are large, and of a deep mazarine 

 blue. All the Gentians require abun- 

 dance of free air, and will not grow 

 well in the smoky atmosphere of a 

 town. They should be grown in a 



