570 
NOTES ON FLOWERS. 
and they must be kept in the same place until 
they are fairly established, when they should 
be gradually brought to bear the treatment of 
older plants, being shifted into larger pots 
when requisite, and kept during winter in a 
dry part of the greenhouse. In the spring 
they may receive the treatment of mature 
plants. Both these means of increase are, 
however, very tardy. 
The plant is stated to be intensely bitter ; 
and to prove a valuable remedial agent in many 
diseases — we presume in its native country. 
THE HOLLY TREE. 
"We are so accustomed to see the Holly 
growing as a scrubby bush, either in the 
hedge-row, or among thick masses of shrubs, 
that the idea of a Holly tree is in general not 
very distinctly impressed on the mind. And 
yet among the smaller trees, there is scarcely 
one so beautiful as the Holly when old enough 
to display itself in this character, and standing 
alone, so as to assume its own proper mode of 
growth. 
The prickly character of the evergreen 
foliage of the common Holly is well known. It 
sometimes happens that when the plant has 
been allowed to assume the arborescent habit, 
the upper leaves are for the most part either 
entirely without prickles except that of their 
mucronated apex, or are much less prickly 
than ordinary. This has given rise to some 
very elegant lines of Southey's, which are well 
known. The image of the poet is however 
rather a constrained one, inasmuch as the 
foundation upon which it is built is not con- 
stant. Something of this kind of habit may 
however often be observed. 
Speaking of this tree, Evelyn in his Sylca 
observes : — " Above all the natural greens 
which enrich our home-born store, there is 
none certainly to be compared to the Agri- 
folium, or Acuifolium rather, our Holly [Ilex 
Aquifolium'], insomuch that I have often won- 
der'd at our curiosity after foreign plants, and 
expensive difficulties, to the neglect of the 
culture of this vulgar but incomparable tree, 
whether we will propagate it for use and de- 
fence, or for sight and ornament." " The 
timber of the Holly (besides that it is the 
whitest of all hard woods, and therefore us'd 
by the In-layer especially under thin plates of 
Ivory to render it more conspicuous) is for all 
sturdy purposes ; the millwright, turner, and 
engraver prefer it to any other." 
"We recommend the Holly to be more fre- 
quently planted as a tree in the conspicuous 
parts of lawns, shrubberies, and pleasure 
grounds, either singly, or in combination with 
others to form a group. It will grow in 
almost any soil and situation, but prefers a 
loamy soil. 
NOTES ON FLOWERS AND FLOWERING 
PLANTS. 
Heliotropium peruvianum, var. Voltaire- 
anum (Voltaire's Heliotrope). — Ehretiaceas § 
Heliotropes. — This is a very beautiful and 
distinct variety of Heliotrope, differing only 
from the common kind as respects colour. The 
leaves are deeply and strongly tinged with 
purple, and the flowers are of a deep clear 
purple, and very fragrant. It is a garden 
hybrid, raised at Voltaire's residence at 
Ferney, near Geneva, and was introduced to 
this country about 1846. Flowers at various 
periods of the year. Culture. — Half-hardy; 
rich loamy soil ; propagated freely by cut- 
tings. 
Habranthus rosetts, Sweet (rose-coloured 
Habranth). — Amaryllidacese § Amarylleee. — 
A small growing bulb, with narrow glaucous 
strap-shaped leaves, and a stem three or more 
inches high, bearing two large flowers at the 
top ; the flowers trumpet-shaped, expanding 
wide, composed of six segments, rose-coloured, 
with a green base. A native of Southern Chili, 
in the island of Chiloe. Introduced in 1828. 
Flowers in June. Culture. — Nearly hardy; re- 
quires a hot dry situation, free loam, plenty of 
water while growing, and continued rest after- 
wards ; propagated by offsets or seeds. 
Crocus astdricus, 2Zerier*(Asturian Cro- 
cus). — Iridacea?. — A small interesting bulbous 
plant, agreeing with C^/re?^«.s(nudiflorus)in 
producing its offsets on runners, but smaller in 
all its parts, and flowering a month later. It has 
purplish flowers, and an orange-coloured style. 
Native of the hills of Asturia, near Gijon and 
Santander. Introduced in 1845 ? Flowers in 
the autumn. Culture. — Hardy; common soil; 
propagated by offsets from the conns. 
