AZA 
BER 
require this description of earth growing 
together, than spread among those of 
another character, because of the extra 
trouble occasioned in providing so many 
separate beds of soil for them, and the 
probability of these small quantities be¬ 
coming incorporated with or deteriorated 
by the surrounding earth, to say nothing 
of the additional effect created by the 
plants when viewed together. 
In planting, the roots must be care¬ 
fully covered in with the finer portions 
of the soil, and at the finish it should be 
pressed rather firmly together, so as to 
keep the plant securely in its place. 
Through September and October may be 
regarded as the best time for transplant¬ 
ing this genus, or if it cannot be done 
then, no other period is so good as the 
end of February or the earlier part of the 
following month, taking care to have them 
all placed some time before they begin 
to grow. Pruning must be cautiously 
performed, and in healthy specimens 
is seldom necessary, except to restrain an 
over luxuriant branch; a weak plant 
may sometimes be benefited by close 
pruning, though it is always better to 
improve it at the roots than in any other 
manner. Through the summer succeed¬ 
ing their removal, it may be necessary to 
supply them frequently with water, 
always observing to give sufficient to 
thoroughly moisten the whole of the 
earth, and to repeat it as occasion may 
point out. Propagation of this class of 
Azaleas is usually performed by layers 
made iu the autumn; these are generally 
rooted by the succeeding autumn, and 
are then taken off, and treated as separate 
plants. Cuttings also may be struck 
under hand-lights, on a warm border, or 
in a spent hot-bed; the half-ripened wood 
forming the cuttings. New varieties 
are obtained from seed, and to ensure 
diversity, it should be cross impregnated; 
it should be sown in February, in pots of 
sandy peat, the surface should be pressed 
smooth and firm, and the seed evenly 
scattered over it, and covered with a very 
thin layer of sand; the pots should stand 
in a very gentle heat till the young 
plants make their appearance, when it 
will be necessary to harden them 
gradually, and when large enough, they 
should be potted off, and kept in cold 
frames till strong enough to bear 
the open air. The following are a few 
good varieties : alba , white : alba plena, 
double white; blanda, blush; carnea , pale 
red; chrysolecta , yellow; cuprea, copper; 
Coburghii , scarlet; corymbosa , scarlet; 
dealbata , white; discolor , white and 
scarlet; fastigiata , pink; flammea , red; 
florid a, pink; grand-flora, orange; incana, 
pink; ignescens, red; incarnata , flesh; 
lepida , striped; mirabilis, scarlet; rnag- 
nifica, red; odor at a, white : papilionacea, 
striped; partita, white and red; penicil- 
lata, white; purpurescens, pale purple; 
purpurea, deep purple; pur. plena, double 
purple; rosea, pale red; ruberrirna, deep 
red; rutilans, dark red; scintillans, shining 
orange; splendens, deep orange ; Staple- 
ton ian a, rose; tricolor, scarlet and 
white; and variegata , red and white. 
BENTHAMIA (Bindley.) Nat. Ord. 
Cornacere. But one species known. B. 
fragifera is a handsome evergreen plant, 
bearing a profusion of yellowish-red 
flowers through the summer, that are 
succeeded by an equally great number of 
large, globular, yellowish berries, which 
are eatable, though rather insipidExcept 
in exposed places, the plant is sufficiently 
hardy to withstand our wiuters; it makes 
the best appearance against a south wall, 
and is then perfectly secure from the 
viscissitudes of the weather. It grows 
in ordinarv garden soil, and is increased 
by layers or seed. 
BERBERIS, Barberry (Linn.) Nat. 
Order Berber acece. A rather extensive 
and very ornamental genus of under 
shrubs, partly evergreen, that portion 
being the handsomest; a familiar example 
may be found in the B. aquifolia, a shrub 
inferior to very few, either as regards its 
fine, glossy holly-like foliage, or the 
number and brilliancy of the yellow 
blossoms displayed in early spring, and 
succeeded by deep purple berries, which 
ornament it through the winter. Most 
of the species have an erect slender habit 
of growth; the flowers of the whole are 
yellow, and generally produced in abun¬ 
dance, rendering the plants very gay in 
