236 green-house — repotting. [March, 
The swamp earth and vegetable mould being more combined 
with aluminous salt than brown loam, is the cause of the 
change : and, when first found out (which was merely by 
chance), was thought a great wonder. It must have a very 
plentiful supply of water when in flower, which is produced on 
the shoots of the previous year. They will neither grow nor 
flower well if they are not kept constantly in the shade. 
When kept in the sun, the foliage is very brown ; and by 
being neglected in watering, we have seen the flowers com- 
pletely scourged. IT. japonica, a new variety with pink 
flowers, and the same disposition to change colour, a little 
fragrant. Being tolerably hardy, when the winters are mild, 
by a little protection in the open air, they will flower pro- 
fusely ; the flowers will be very large, and in bloom from June 
to October. They are deciduous, soft-wooded shrubs. 
Ilex, Holly, of I. aqui/dlium. There are above one hun- 
dred of them in cultivation in Europe, differing in variegation, 
margin shape, and size of the leaves : some are only prickly 
on the margin of the foliage, others prickly over all the sur- 
face. In Europe they are all hardy, but with us few or none 
of the varieties are so. If they become acclimated, they will 
be a great ornament to our gardens, being all low evergreen 
shrubs. The most common and conspicuous varieties are 
the hedge-hog, striped hedge-hog, white hedge, gold edged, and 
painted; the flowers are white and small, berries yellow or red ; 
they do not agree with exposure to the sun. /. Gasslne and 
/. vomitbria have very bitter leaves, and, though natives of 
Carolina, we have to give them the protection of a green-house. 
It is said that at certain seasons of the year the Indians make 
a strong decoction of the leaves, which makes them vomit 
freely, and after drinking and vomiting for a few days they 
consider themselves sufficiently purified. (Soil No. 15.) 
Illiciums, Anise-seed tree, three species. I. florid Ccnum has 
very sweet-scented, double purple flowers, and the plant grows 
freely and systematically if properly treated, and deserves 
particular attention. /. parvijibruvi has small yellow flowers ; 
/. anisatum is so very like I. parvijlbrum in every respect as 
to make us conclude they are the same, were I. anisatum not 
a native of China, and the other two natives of Florida. 
When the leaves and capsules of either of them are rubbed, 
they have a very strong smell of anise ; they grow very freely. 
(Soil No. 1.) 
