


OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS, 5S 

in a greenhouse, or at any rate removed into shelter in autumn, it will continue in flower nearly all the year. It 
is propagated by layers, and as layers of woody plants should be made from the first of July till September or 
October, it may be as well to say a few words here on the subject. The operation of layering is performed by 
choosing a young shoot, generally of the current year, bending it down to the ground, and after having fixed it 
there at a joint with a hooked stick, covering it an inch deep or more with soil. To facilitate the rooting of all 
layers, particularly of woody plants, it is customary to make a notch or slit in that part of the shoot which is buried 
in the soil; or it is twisted, and a portion of the bark taken off, or it isin some other way wounded, bruised, or 
injured, so as to check the return of the sap by the bark; when the sap accumulating at the upper part of the wound 
forms a callosity there of granulated matter, from which the roots are soon after emitted. It must be observed that 
the great point in making a layer of any woody plant, is to form an obstruction to prevent the return of the sap, 
as unless an accumulation of sap takes place, roots cannot be produced. When a slit is made in the shoot of a 
woody plant, it is always made on the upper side, and the knife is entered immediately below a bud or joint ; and it 
must be observed that it is from the joints the roots are expected to proceed, and that consequently it is the joints 
that must be buried in the earth. The layers made the latter end of summer or in autumn are generally ready 
for removing from the parent plant the following spring. 
2.—HYPERICUM URALUM Ham. THE NEPAL, OR MYRTLE-LEAVED ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
Eneravincs.—Bot. Mag., t. 2375 ; and our fig. 2, in Pl. 14. corymbose; sepals oval, very blunt; petals orbicular; styles shorter 
Speciric Cuaracrer.—Branches compressed, two-edged. Leaves | than the stamens. (G. Don.) 
elliptical, mucronulate, smooth, shining. Flowers terminal, somewhat 
Description, &c.—This species is a native of Nepal, where it was first discovered by Dr. Francis Hamilton. 
In India it is called Urala Swa. When it was first introduced it was thought it would prove hardy, but it is now 
found that it requires the protection of a conservatory. It grows about two feet high, and the leaves are much 
more ornamental than those of most other plants of the genus, as in general the leaves are so numerous in 
proportion to the flowers, as to give the plants somewhat of a weedy appearance. The species was introduced in 
1823, and it flowers from July to September. 
3.—HYPERICUM BALEARICUM Lin. THE MAJORCA ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
Enecravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 137; and our jig. 3, in Pl. 14. 
Spreciric CuaracTeR.—Stem quadrangular, warted. Leaves ovate, obtuse, rather stem-clasping. (@. Don.) 
Description, &c.—This is a very singular looking plant, which, notwithstanding the size and brilliant colour of 
its flowers, is not very ornamental, from the leaves having the look of being diseased. The stalks of this species 
are usually of a bright red, and covered with little warts. The leaves are small, with many depressions on their 
upper side like scars ; and the flowers are either solitary or form a kind of corymb. ‘The plant is tolerably hardy, 
and it is readily propagated by cuttings. It continues producing a succession of flowers during the greater part 
of the summer. It was first called Myrtle Cistus, and is said to have been introduced under that name in the 
year 1580, by Thomas Penny, a physician in London in those days. 






