110 
THE ANDROMEDA. 
known under that title ; for modern botanical 
science has assigned to many of them other 
titles, which are not very familiar with any 
but those who have a scientific knowledge of 
plants. Closely allied to this group is an- 
other, of which a familiar example is found in 
the common Bilberry ( Vaccinivm Myrtillus), 
which covers extensive tracts of waste land 
in various parts of our own country. A great 
many of the Vacciniums that are cultivated in 
gardens are, however, deciduous plants ; as 
also are some of those which formerly bore 
the name of Andromeda. It is with this 
latter group — that of Vacciniums — that the 
plant here represented is most closely related ; 
and we shall now direct our notice more 
exclusively to it. The relationship briefly 
sketched above, will be evident from the names 
the plant has borne, viz : — Andromeda cocci- 
nea, and Vaccinium brasiliense, given it by 
the olden writers. 
This species of Gaylussacia is an evergreen 
shrub, of spreading habit, growing from two 
to three feet high, clothed with fine glossy 
green oval leaves, an inch or rather more in 
length, and which give to the plant a very 
interesting appearance, even during the winter 
months when devoid of flowers. On the 
approach of summer, its flowers are produced, 
and these possess much beauty : they are 
what is termed pitcher-shaped, that is to say, 
cup-shaped, and contracted at the mouth, and 
their coluur is a most delicate and beautiful 
light rosy red. April, May, and June, are 
the particular months in which it is found to 
blossom ; and this it does not sparingly but 
profusely, for the branches throw out nume- 
rous axillary racemes, and these bear from 
eight to twelve flowers. There is a peculiar 
gracefulness in the distribution of these 
racemes ; they stand out laterally from the 
branches which support them, and being 
somewhat slender, the weight of the flowers 
gives them a graceful curve, and the flowers 
too are all turned as it were downwards, so 
that the flowers hang in a gracefully pendant 
curve. This arrangement of the flowers, so 
that they all point one way, is expressed by 
the botanical term secund. 
The plant is a native of Brazil, where it 
grows in open sandy plains. St. Hilaire, a 
Brazilian traveller, found it near the town of 
Caravellos, in the province of Porto Seguro, 
and extending along the coast as far as the 
island of Santa Catherina. The first recorded 
plants raised in England, were obtained by 
Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney, who obtained 
the seeds from a friend residing in Brazil ; 
and from these seeds plants were raised about 
the year 1840. 
It is found to be a greenhouse plant, well 
adapted from its handsome glossy foliage, in 
company with other evergreens, for purposes 
of ornament and effect, even when it has no 
flowers upon it. Peat soil is most proper for 
it ; and it should have fibry turfy peat, con- 
taining a good sprinkling of particles of sand 
throughout its mass. To have fine plants, 
the roots must have the range of a consider- 
able bulk of healthy soil, but it is better not 
to put them into pots which look inconveni- 
ently large compared with the plants ; and in 
any case, the pots must be well drained, with 
a good layer of broken potsherds in the 
bottom, and some lumps of charcoal mixed 
among the soil, which is best used in great 
part in the form of small lumps, in preference 
to being too finely broken or sifted. While 
they are making their growth, they must have 
a liberal supply of water ; and, in fact, as 
with all other allied plants, they ought never 
to be allowed to get very dry. If this takes 
place during the period of growth, it will 
cause the young shoots to be small and 
stunted ; and if at any other period of the 
year, it will either cause the leaves to turn 
brown and unsightly, or cause them to fall 
off, in either case altogether spoiling the 
beauty of the plant. In other respects, it may* 
be treated in a similar manner to heaths and 
similar shrubby greenhouse plants. The most 
ready means of propagation is by layers, 
which should be put down just before the 
young shoots begin to form. 
.G-aylussacia belongs to the large natural 
group of Ericaceae, which comprises some of 
the most beautiful of all flowering shrubs, 
whether hardy or tender, native or exotic. 
THE ANDROMEDA. 
Under the title of Andromeda, a good many 
species of hardy Ericaceous shrubs were 
originally included ; these have been subse- 
quently separated by botanists into several 
genera, all of which are noticed below. 
The names of the genera ns divided are : — 
Andromeda, Cassiope, Cassandra, Zenobia, 
Lyonia, and Leucothoe : of course those 
who prefer the old names will call all of 
them Andromeda. They are all include 
in that class of subjects generally known a 
American plants. 
ANDROMEDA. 
The genus Andromeda, as now limited, 
contains but two species, of which there are 
several varieties. The name of Andromeda 
was applied by Linnaeus, under somewhat 
