1S78. ] 
BOWENIA SPECTABILIS SERRULATA. 
107 
the same time, it cannot be too forcibly stated 
that the successful forcing and flowering of all 
hardy shrubs is mainly depending upon previous 
preparation, and thorough maturation of the 
wood. Truly we may force plants that have a 
natural tendency to flower during the winter, 
even when newly wrenched from the ground ; 
but it is the weak point discernible in our 
hardy-plant forcing. Besides this, they are 
too often neglected and cast on one side after 
flowering, and thus hopelessly injured for the 
future. The object throughout the season 
should be to secure unimpeded, vigorous 
growth, which must be well ripened ; and this 
obtained, much disappointment in the results 
would be avoided. —Geo. Westland, Witley 
Court Gardens. 
BOWENIA SPECTABILIS SERRULATA. 
&hr5A OWENIA is the only known Cycadaceous 
1 g enus which has bipinnated leaves. 
They spring up erect from a short cau- 
dex, and have green polished stalks, while the 
leaves themselves are evergreen, and the leaflets 
more or less obliquely lance-shaped, and of a 
firm leathery texture. The original species, 
B. spectabilis , is a native of Queensland, as is 
the form represented in the accompanying 
figure from Mr. Bull’s Catalogue, which, whether 
it be permanently distinct from B. spectabilis, 
as Mr. Bull thinks, or whether it be merely the 
young state of that plant, as is believed by 
others, is at least one of the finest and most 
distinct of the grand natural order—that of 
Oycads—to which it belongs. 
Mr. Bull’s description runs thus:—A most 
distinct and remarkable plant. It has a short 
thick caudex, from the crown of which are 
developed its large and singularly handsome 
