186 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



made of varieties worthy of a name, and to be propagated by 

 cuttings for pot culture. 



B. boliviensis was the first species introduced ; it was brought 

 to this country in 1864. The characteristics of the plant are 

 its narrow leaves and drooping, elongated, cinnabar- scarlet and 

 Fuchsia-like flowers. A large number of my double varieties 

 at one time showed the influence of this species by their narrow 

 leaves and elongated, many-centred flowers. It was also the 

 seed-parent of the first hybrid, B. Sedeni, sent out in 1870. 

 Even now it is something more than a botanical curiosity. 



The next species introduced was B. Pearcei, in 1865. It 

 was the chief factor in the production of the yellow, buff, and 

 orange- coloured varieties. Its broad, oblique, olive-green leaves, 

 more or less ornamented with silvery or pale green veins, can 

 be distinctly traced in a large number of the choice modern 

 kinds, 



B. Veitchi followed in 1867, characterised by its broad, 

 orbicular leaves, and large round flowers of a brilliant vermilion. 

 Many of the finest varieties, both single and double, now in 

 existence owe their origin and their fine qualities to it. 



In the same year B. rosceflora was brought home, and was 

 utilised to a small extent only in the production of some of the 

 earliest hybrids. Light-coloured seedlings of it gave rise to 

 Queen of Whites, put into commerce in 1878, and destined to 

 be a most important factor in subsequent varieties of the same 

 colour. B. rosceflora has broad, orbicular leaves, and pale red 

 flowers, like those of the Sweet Briar. 



B. Davisi reached this country in 1876, and was much 

 utilised, for a time at least, in the production of new kinds. Its 

 neat dwarf habit, and warm scarlet flowers, carried well above 

 the foliage, made it a favourite with hybridists. It gave rise to 

 numerous dwarf, erect -habited kinds, with small but brightly 

 coloured flowers* 



B. Clarkei was introduced in the same year as B. Veitchi 

 and B. rosceflora, but, like the latter, was not much used as a 

 parent. It resembles B. Veitchi to some extent, and is of tall 

 habit, with rose-red flowers. It was, moreover, the seed-parent 

 of Vesuvius and Emperor, two important varieties which long 

 held their own, either as pot plants or for bedding out. 



Leaving out of consideration the race of winter-flowering 



