Part 5

_Alonsòas_, five species, all soft wooded, small, shrubby plants, with scarlet flowers. _A. incisifòlia_ is known amongst us under the name of _Hemímeris urticifólia_, and _A. lineàris_ as _H. lineàris_. If well treated, they form very handsome plants, and flower freely. They will not bear strong fumigation; and, when the house is under that operation, they must be put on the floor of the Green-house, where they will not be so much affected. They flower from May to August.

_Aùcuba japónica_ is the only species. The flowers are small and almost insignificant, colour purple; but the foliage is a desirable object, being yellow spotted, or blotched. It is tolerably hardy, and withstands our winters. It prefers shade, and, if the situation was such when planted out, it would grow more freely. The hot rays of the sun are very prejudicial to its growth. It is an evergreen shrub, and very desirable.

_Anagyris_, three species, evergreen, pea flowered shrubs, flowers yellow, nothing very attractive in either of the species. A. _f[oe]tida_ is found in many collections, and we have no doubt but it may prove, in this country, a hardy shrub.

_Azàleas_, seven of the China species, which are those we shall enumerate here. The one that has been longest known in the collections of this country is _A. índica_, a most splendid shrub, with scarlet cup flowers and dark spots. _A. índica àlba_, flowers of the purest white, and rather larger than the former. _A. índica purpùrea pleno_, double purple. This variety is not so fine as any of the others. Properly it is not purple, or, if it may be termed so, the colour is very light; the flower irregular. _A. índica ph[oe]nícea_ is magnificent. The colour is darker, and the flower larger than _A. índica_, and a free grower. _A. sinénse_, flowers large, yellow. The wood is much stronger than any of those previously mentioned. It bears a very high character in Europe. It has not yet flowered in our collection, but appears as if it would in the ensuing season (1832). All the above ought to have a situation in every Green-house. They flower from March until May. There are two other varieties which have not come under our observation. Do not shift or repot them, if they are in flower, until the flowering is over. The pots must be well drained; and the plants require a shaded situation. If they are properly treated, they will be completely covered with their showy flowers every year.

_Aòtus_, two species, both fine leguminose plants. _A. villòsa_, is a native of Van Dieman's Land; and _A. virgàta_, is from New Holland. The former is preferable. Both have yellow flowers, and are small evergreen shrubs.

_Andersónia sprengelioídes_, is the only species, and closely allied to _Epácris_, flowers small, and of a pale yellow colour. Drain the pots well; flowers from March to August.

_Arbutus_, eight exotic species, and six varieties. They are generally hardy in England; but we question if they stand out in the middle states. _A. unìdo rùbra_ has the finest crimson flowers; _A. serratifólia_, the largest panicles; and _A. Andráchne_, the finest foliage. They flower in nodding panicles; the flowers are principally white, tinged with green, and wax-like. They bear a pretty fruit similar to a strawberry; hence it is called strawberry tree, and the fruit will remain on the bush a long time. They are very fine evergreens, and if any of them become acclimated, they will be a great acquisition to our gardens.

_Bánksias_. There are about thirty-two species, all curious in flower, and handsome and various in foliage; flowers in large heads and cone-shaped anthers, mostly green, and continue a considerable time in flower; produces a cone in shape of a pine, but not imbricate. The substance is as hard as bone, and contains many seeds. A cone of _B. grándis_ in our possession weighs one pound twelve ounces, and contains about 107 seeds. Those most admired for the foliage are _B. dentata_, _B. æmula_, _B. serràta_, _B. latifòlia_, _B. grándis_, which is the largest. _B. speciòsa_ has the longest foliage. _B. Cunninghámii_, _B. spinulòsa_, _B. palludòsa_, and _B. rèpens_, these will afford a good variety. _B. verticillàta_ is entirely different in appearance from the others.

They should be well drained, and placed in an airy part of the Green-house. Great care should be taken that they do not get too dry, for they seldom recover if allowed to flag for want of water. This genus is named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks, a distinguished promoter of the study of natural history.

_Bignònias._ Those of this genus belonging to the Green-house have been divided to _Tecòma_, and there are only three for this department. _T. austràlis_ known as _B. Pandòræ_; _T. grandiflòra_, known as _B. grandiflòra_, and has large and magnificent clusters of orange-coloured flowers, flowering from May to October.

_Tecòma capénsis_ is a very pretty climbing shrub, a free grower, and flowers abundantly; flowers in dense panicles, colour orange and red, continues for several weeks in succession from April to August, greatly esteemed in Europe where it is known; being now in a few of our collections, will soon be generally admired.

_Blètia hyacinthìna_ is the only species belonging to the Green-house, once known as _Cymbídium hyacinthìnum_. It is herbaceous, and when it begins to grow divide the root, putting the best into five inch pots. The spike of flowers are hyacinth-like, and of a beautiful purple, flowering from April to July.

_Borònia_ is a beautiful genus of New Holland plants, contains about nine species; most of them have been universally admired; the flowers are star-like, and rose-coloured, and some of them sweet-scented. _B. pinnàta_ grows and flowers freely. _B. serrulàta_, foliage serrated and very crowded, bearing the flowers on the extremity of the shoot. _B. alàta_ has a fine appearance, and grows handsomely. The foliage is winged and pinnate, of a hardy nature, and easy culture, flowers freely. They are in flower about April and May, and continue a considerable time; are subject to mildew if not frequently syringed; drain the pots well.

_Bouvárdias_, two species. _B. triphylla_ is well known amongst us, has brilliant scarlet flowers, and when well grown, will flower beautifully from May till September. To keep the plants, they should be frequently renewed; otherwise they are liable to grow straggling, and become subject to the small white scaly insect. _B. Jacquìnæ_ we suspect has got confounded with the former, being very little different, except the foliage, which is more pointed. They flower from the young wood, and often throw their foliage in winter.

_Brachysèmas_, two species, both evergreen climbers. _B. latifòlium_ has the best foliage, and large purple leguminose flowers. _B. undulàtum_, flowers yellow, and more plentiful than the former, continuing in long successions. The pots require to be well drained; very few plants of either in the country.

_Burchéllias_, two species. _B. capénsis_ is a beautiful dwarf evergreen shrub, with tubular scarlet flowers in large terminate clusters; when well treated, grows and flowers freely, and highly deserving of attention. _B. parviflòra_ differs from the above in the flowers being smaller and paler, and the foliage more pointed.

_Beaufórtias_, only two species. _B. decussàta_ is splendid; the flowers come out of the wood with stamens in fine parcels, colour bright scarlet, foliage decussate, oval, and many-nerved, bloom persistent, and much esteemed. _B. spársa_, in flower similar to the other, colour light pink, foliage scattered, both easy of culture, and flower abundantly.

_Brùnias_, about ten species, have heath-like foliage, very fine, generally, on close observation, found to be three cornered. The flowers are white and globular, the plants when young are very handsome; the finest are _B. nodiflòra_, _B. lanuginósa_, _B. comòsa_, _B. abrotanoídes_, and _B. formòsa_. They require an airy situation, and in summer to be protected from the powerful rays of the sun. Drain the pots well.

_Bósea yervamóra_, Golden rod tree, leaves large, alternate, ovate, acute, with purple veins and nerves, flowers brown, in axillary dense panicles, grows strong and freely.

_Bæckias_, above twelve species, of heath-like appearance, and except for variety, are not otherwise desirable. _B. camphoràta_ is camphor-scented; _B. pulchélla_ is very neat; and _B. virgàta_ flowers freely. Pots should be well drained. The flowers of all the genus are white.

_Billardiéras_, about five species, are desirable as climbers, being of rapid growth, and abundant in flower. _B. longiflòra_, fruits freely, and has fine blue berries which look handsome. _B. mutábilis_ is changeable from purple to scarlet. The fruit of _B. scàndens_ is covered with down, flowers straw coloured. _B. fusifórmis_ differs in colour from the others, the flowers being blue. They require to be well drained.

_Calceolàrias_, about fourteen species, besides many hybrid varieties. _C. angustifòlia_, and _C. integrifòlia_ are the best of the shrubby species. _C. plantagínea_, _C. corymbósa_, _C. purpùrea_, and _C. hopiána_, and of the hybrid varieties, _C. micàns_ and _C. hybrìda_ are very fine; but we understand they are numerous, and some of them very splendid.

To grow any of these properly, they should be divided a few weeks after they begin to grow; put them in small pots at first, and enlarge them gradually. Where there is a hot-house, after dividing them, it will greatly promote their growth to keep them in it a few weeks near the glass, until the weather gets mild, when they may be removed to the Green-house. The flowers are principally yellow. _C. Fothergíllii_, _purpùrea_, and _archnoidea_ are purple; the hybrids are spotted with red and brown, and some of them streaked many colours. They continue a long time in flower.

_Calothámnus_, four species. This genus is named in allusion to the splendid appearance of the branches, covered with scarlet flowers of curious construction, which come out of the old wood. All the species are of easy culture, and very like dwarf pines. _C. quadríffida_ has the largest flowers; _C. claváta_ the most abundant. They are all evergreens, and flower from April to November.

_Caméllias._ There are about nine species, celebrated over the known world as furnishing the domestic drug called tea, in universal use, besides many flowering trees and shrubs as universally admired. Oil may be expressed from the seeds of all the species, and used as that of hemp and poppy in cookery. _C. víridis_ and _C. bohèa_ are said to be the species which supply the tea. Some have asserted that there is only one shrub used, but by examination it may be easily perceived that there are leaves of various shape and texture, some of them similar to _C. sasanqua_. Dr. Abel gives an explicit detail of the growing and manufacturing process of tea, from which, in compliment to our fair patrons, we give a few extracts:

"The tea districts of China extend from the twenty-seventh to the thirty-first degree of north latitude. It seems to succeed best on the sides of mountains. The soils from which I collected the best specimens consisted chiefly of sand-stone, schistus, or granite. The plants are raised from seeds sown where they are to remain. Three or more are dropped into a hole four or five inches deep; these come up without further trouble, and require little culture, except that of removing weeds, till the plants are three years old. The more careful stir the soil, and some manure it, but the latter practice is seldom adopted. The third year the leaves are gathered, at three successive gatherings, in February, April and June, and so on until the bushes become stunted or slow in their growth, which generally happens in from six to ten years. They are then cut in to encourage the production of fresh roots.

"The gathering of the leaves is performed with care and selection. The leaves are plucked off one by one: at the first gathering only the unexpanded and tender are taken; at the second those that are full grown; and at the third the coarsest. The first forms what is called in Europe imperial tea; but as to the other names by which tea is known, the Chinese know nothing; and the compounds and names are supposed to be made and given by the merchants at Canton, who, from the great number of varieties brought to them, have an ample opportunity of doing so. Formerly it was thought that green tea was gathered exclusively from _C. víridis_; but that is now doubtful, though it is certain that there is what is called the green tea district and black tea district; and the varieties grown in the one district differ from those of the other. I was told by competent persons that either of the two plants will afford the black or green tea of the shops, but that the broad thin-leaved plant (_C. víridis_) is preferred for making the green tea.

"The tea leaves being gathered, are cured in houses which contain from five to twenty small furnaces, about three feet high each, having at top a large flat iron pan. There is also a long low table covered with mats, on which the leaves are laid, and rolled by workmen, who sit round it: the iron pan being heated to a certain degree by a little fire made in the furnace underneath, a few pounds of the fresh-gathered leaves are put upon the pan; the fresh and juicy leaves crack when they touch the pan, and it is the business of the operator to shift them as quickly as possible, with his bare hands, till they cannot be easily endured. At this instant he takes off the leaves with a kind of shovel resembling a fan, and pours them on the mats before the rollers, who, taking small quantities at a time, roll them in the palm of their hands in one direction, while others are fanning them, that they may cool the more speedily, and retain their curl the longer. This process is repeated two or three times, or oftener, before the tea is put into the stores, in order that all the moisture of the leaves may be thoroughly dissipated, and their curl more completely preserved. On every repetition the pan is less heated, and the operation performed more closely and cautiously. The tea is then separated into the different kinds, and deposited in the store for domestic use or exportation.

"The different sorts of black and green arise, not merely from soil, situation, or the age of the leaf; but after winnowing the tea, the leaves are taken up in succession as they fall; those nearest the machine being the heaviest, are the gunpowder tea; the light dust the worst, being chiefly used by the lower classes. That which is brought down to Canton, then undergoes a second roasting, winnowing, packing, &c. and many hundred women are employed for these purposes." Kæmpfer asserts that a species of _Caméllia_ as well as _Olea fràgrans_ is used to give it a high flavour.

_C. oleíferia_ is cultivated principally in China for the oil which is expressed from its seeds, which is much used in the domestic cookery of the country; flower single white.

_C. Sesánqua_, Lady Banks's. The foliage of this species is very small, and paler, and the green not so fine, as any of the others. It seeds freely, and is often used as the female parent in producing new varieties; flowers small white and single, with many anthers. There are a Semi-double, and Double variety of it of the same colour.

_C. maliflòra_ is figured in the Botanical Register, under the name of _C. Sesánqua rósea_. The foliage is about the same shape as _C. Sesánqua_, but the appearance and habit of the plant are completely different, growing very freely and quite erect; flowers very abundant. A large plant of it will continue in bloom for the space of three months. The flowers are of about six weeks' duration, colour and shape of _Rose de meaux_; has been highly esteemed. One plant of it has been sold for one hundred and eighty dollars.

_C. Kíssii_. We believe it is single white, has not come under our observation, the only species that is a native of Nepaul.

_C. reticuláta_ was brought from China by Capt. Rawes. The foliage is very characteristic, being rougher than any of the other flowers, about five inches in diameter, brilliant scarlet, and semi-double. It was introduced into Europe in 1822, and is still very scarce. Twenty-five dollars are paid for a small twig of it. From present appearance, it will never be so plenty as many of the others, being tardy of propagation; only a few eyes on the extremity of each shoot make young wood, and if these are cut off, the plant does not seem to push afresh.

C. _japónica_, the original of many splendid varieties, probably to the amount of one hundred. The true one is in very few collections; it is single striped.

C. _japónica rùbra_ is the single red of our collections, and used as stocks to enarch, graft, or inoculate the other varieties upon, being easily struck by cuttings. It seeds very freely, when the stile is impregnated, and the seedlings make the strongest and best stocks.

C. _japónica álba_, single white. It is mentioned in some of our catalogues, as being very sweet-scented, though not very perceptible to us. The foliage and wood are very strong, being a free seeding variety, consequently particularly desirable, as a stock to grow new varieties from. Its flowers are large and abundant.

C. _semidúplex._ This is a flower with two rows of petals. Some good varieties might be got from it, if properly impregnated.

C. _rùbro-plèno_ is a strong growing and free-flowering variety. The flowers are large, double red, petals irregular, with the anthers in bunches amongst them; flowers are of long duration and showy.

C. _cárnea_, frequently known as Middlemist's blush. Colour pink, one of the original varieties, and frequently produces seeds; grows freely.

C. _myrtifólia_, known in some collections as _involúta_. There are two varieties of it, major and minor; the former is certainly the best, and has a very handsome, large, and regular red flower; the centre frequently is pink and purple; it is much the shape of _Double white_, only the petals are more cupped. The flower is of considerable duration. It is not properly named. The foliage, though the smallest of the variety, is much larger than that of any of our common myrtles, which might make many mistake its character; and another prominent feature is, the leaves are much recurved and shining.

C. _hexanguláris_. The flower is six angled, very compact, and dark red. It is an esteemed variety, and there has unfortunately been another inferior, substituted for it, in some of our collections. The foliage is similar in shape to _anemoniflòra_, with the nerves more sunk; the flowers are of an ordinary size.

C. _atro-rùbens_, Loddiges' red, is a very fine variety; colour dark red outside, petals large inside, small and irregular, forming a very distinct character; foliage stiff; grows freely and flowers well; and of long duration. We have seen a flower stand fresh on the plant two months; however, that cannot be a rule, as it depends on the situation.

C. _anemoniflòra_, or _Waratah_ (from the central petals, having the appearance of the Waratah plant, _Telopìa speciosissima_.) This variety is very characteristic, both in flower and foliage. The flower is dark crimson, with five or six regular large outside petals; those of the centre are very small, and neatly plaited, with the stile (female organ) prominent; the foliage is large and oblong, nerves very smooth, and the wood strong, bark light. Had this kind not been found, we would have been deprived of many most splendid varieties, which have originated from it, and we have no doubt they may become as diversified as the roses of the garden. This variety in a collection for that alone is invaluable. It seeds freely, and the pollen of any of the others applied to the style of this, will produce a new variety, which seldom fails of being double, provided the pollen is from a double variety. It must be applied the first day that the flower is expanded, for the flower is only of a few days' duration. Those that are not acquainted with the buds of this _Caméllia_, will take them to be dead, because, before expansion, they are very dark brown.

_C. dianthiflòra_, or Knight's _carnation Waratah_, is, when well grown, a very beautiful flower; shape and size same as _anemoniflòra_ (and a seedling from it by Mr. Knight, King's Road, Chelsea, London,) seemingly the stamens are crowned with small petals, red and white striped, appearing like a fine large carnation. The style appears fertile, and there is no doubt but some splendid varieties may be obtained from it.

_C. blánda_, or blush Waratah, flower in shape similar to _anemoniflòra_, rather larger, and of considerable duration.

_C. pompónia_, or Kew blush, flowers very large, white, with a tinge of blush at the bottom of the petals, which has a good effect in setting off the flower. They frequently bloom all blush, which appears rather curious on the same plant; shape one or two rows of guard or outside petals; those of the inside are short, stubby, and generally irregular, continues long in flower, yellow anthers among the short petals, and seeds when the female organ is perfect; foliage narrower than any of the others, a very fast grower, and flowers freely.

_C. pæòniflora_. The foliage, shape, and size of the flower of this, is similar to the last mentioned, colour a rich pink; we have never seen any of them vary from this; and have seen it seed very double.

_C. Walbánkii_, has a very large white irregular flower, by some called poppy-flowered. It is not so pure as the common double white; the anthers show amongst the petals, and the buds before expansion are very round, inclining to flatness; the foliage long and shining. The flowers are of considerable duration. We question with lutea-alba.

_C. alba-plèna_, common double white, is admired by the most casual observer, and is generally considered a very superior flower, from the purity of its whiteness, and the abundance of its large flowers, which are thickly and regularly set with round petals. The foliage is large, and the plant grows freely; we have seen one shoot grow two feet in one summer. It was imported into Europe from China, amongst the first of the varieties, about eighty years ago.

_C. flavéscens_, Lady Hume's blush, and by some called _buff_. It is a very double flower, and frequently hexangular; the bottom of the petals are most delicately tinged with blush; on looking into it, it shows more like a blush vapour than nature, and is a great favourite, and deservedly so, with the ladies: flowers and grows freely, foliage rhomboid, elongate, nerves very visible, surface smooth and pale green, distantly serrate.

_C. fimbriàta._ The size, shape, and set of the flower same as _alba-plena_, and the white as pure, with the edges of the petals deeply serrated, or rather fringed; is equally as free in flowering and growing. It is universally admired, and in great demand. Its character is unique, foliage very like _alba-plèno_. [See Frontispiece.]

_C. imbricàta_, said to be a very double red, with imbricated petals, and very handsome. We have not seen it in flower.

_C. variagàta_, is one of the old standard varieties, and very much esteemed. It is striped with red and white; sometimes the ground is red, with white streaks or blotches, and _vice versa_. The flower when well grown is large, and very abundant; foliage very fine dark green, similar to single white. We have had seed from it. The petals are regular, with the anthers showing amongst them; the flower double, though not so much so as many of the others.

_C. crassinérvis._ We have not the smallest doubt but this is the same as _hexangularis_, and in confirmation of our opinion, we have lately had the best authority in Europe to that effect.