250 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
former flower in summer, the latter in spring. In autumn 
the spadix is generally covered with scarlet berries which are 
very effective. These quaint plants will succeed in good 
ordinary soil in warm borders or in partial shade in woodland 
or wild gardens. Not suited for heavy clay soils. Plant the 
tubers in early autumn. Increased by offsets removed after 
the foliage has faded. Botanists now class A. crinitum under 
another generic name, viz., Helicodiceros crinitus, and A. 
Dracunculus as Dracunculus vulgaris. 
Bs.bsa.irta. (Baboon Root). — South African bulbous-rooted 
plants, belonging to the Iris family (Iridaceae). The bulbs or 
corms have a fibrous coat and the leaves are plaited, hairy 
and stiff. The flowers, which are funnel-shaped and borne on 
dense spikes, are fragrant, showy, and produced in May and 
June. LTnfortunately they are only suitable for outdoor culture 
in the south. The corms should be planted 4m. deep and 
3in. apart in sandy loam, on a sunny sheltered rockery. Plant 
in September or October, or in February. If the early planted 
ones show through the soil in winter, protect them with a 
covering of dry bracken fern. Lift the corms after the foliage 
dies and replant later. Increased by offsets. The chief kinds 
are B. disticha, pale blue, hyacinth-scented : B. plicata, violet- 
blue, clove-scented; B. ringens, scarlet; B. stricta, white and 
lilac blue ; and B. sambucina, purple, elder-scented. 
Bcssera (Coral Drops). — B. elegans is a half-hardy 
bulbous-rooted plant, belonging to the Lily family (Liliaceae), 
and a native of Mexico. It grows about a foot high, and bears 
bright scarlet, bell-shaped flowers in umbels in August. Being 
somewhat tender it pan only be grown outdoors in the south 
and west parts of the kingdom, and then only in a warm 
border at the foot of a south wall, or in a w ! arm sheltered 
rockery. The bulbs should be planted in March in a compost 
of equal parts peat, loam, leaf-mould and sand. In winter 
protect by a covering of bracken. Increased by offsets. 
Bloomeria. — B. aurea comes from California, and is 
a half-hardy bulbous plant belonging to the Lily order (Lili- 
aceae). It is a very pretty plant, bearing golden-yellow flowers 
striped with brown in umbels in June, and grow'ing about a 
foot high. Suitable for outdoor culture in warm districts 
only. Plant the bulbs 3m. deep and 3m. apart in sandy 
soil in a warm border or sunny rockery in September. In- 
creased by offsets. 
Bravoa (Scarlet Twinflower). — A genus of half-hardy 
bulbous plants, belonging to the Amaryllis family (Amaryl- 
lidaceae). The only species grown is B. geminiflora, a native 
