198 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



B. socotrana is a distinct and beautiful species, with bright 

 rose-coloured flowers. It should be rested through the summer 

 and started again in heat during September. 



The dark-foliaged varieties are deserving of mention ; and 

 although Saturne and B. hydroco tylifo lia are free, and con- 

 tinue in flower for some considerable time, the former being 

 more effective than the latter, yet the premier position belongs, 

 I think, to Gloire de Sceaux, which is of upright growth, and 

 has large open flat flowers of a soft silky pink, which contrast 

 well with its rich bronze foliage. It requires good treatment. 



B. manicata has small pink flowers. 



B. ricinifolia has large bronzy-green foliage not unlike those 

 of the Castor-oil plant, and where a bold plant is required, 

 throwing up a strong flowering stem which continues in good 

 condition for a considerable time, this would be found a most 

 useful variety. 



B. undulata and B. foliosa (syn. microphylla) are both 

 very useful for baskets, vases, &c. The former has deep green 

 foliage with a lighter edge, the flowers being of a reddish- 

 salmon colour. The latter has small dark green foliage, and is 

 of a very graceful habit, with small white flowers tinged with 

 pink. 



The varieties B. semperflorens alba, rosea, rubra, and the 

 new one named Vernon, or B. atrojnirpurea, are easily raised 

 from seed, and on account of their pretty green foliage (excepting 

 the last, which is of a bronze tint) and continuity of flowering 

 are very useful indoors during the winter and for bedding out 

 during the summer. 



Although not so effective as regards their flowers, yet, taking 

 their ornamental foliage into consideration, the following varie- 

 ties are also well worth growing, and several of them are 

 thoroughly evergreen : B. argentea guttata, B. argyrostigma 

 elegantissima, B. argyrostigma gigantea, B. maculata, B. metal* 

 lica, B. olbia, and B. picta, a kind having the appearance of a 

 densely foliaged Caladium, producing flowers of a soft red. In 

 B. manicata aurco-maculata we have another very effective 

 foliage kind, the variegation being well sustained, green heavily 

 marked with deep cream colour, and occasionally splashed with 

 chocolate. 



Having briefly alluded to the improvements in the coloured- 



