Part 59

=B. Carderi= (Carder's).* _fl._ 2-1/2in. long by 1-1/8in. in breadth at the widest part, regularly bell-shaped, with six segments, the three outer rose-coloured, the three inner nearly equal in length, crenulate, and spotted with purplish-brown; inflorescence pendulous, and consisting of a large terminal umbellate cyme, surrounded at the base by a series of crowded leaves. _l._ oblong lanceolate, acuminate, about 7in. by 2-3/4in. Columbia, 1876. See Fig. 262, for which we are indebted to Mr. Bull.

=B. chontalensis= (Chontalese). _fl._ 1-1/2in. long, sub-campanulate, obtusely trigonous; outer segments thick, fleshy, wavy, rose-red, with a few brown spots round the margin at the tip, very convex; inner segments a little shorter, pale yellow blotched with brown; umbels surrounded by a whorl of leaves, and composed of several peduncles, each bearing four to six nodding flowers. August. _l._ lanceolate or ovate oblong, acuminate. Nicaragua, 1871. (B. M. 5927).

=B. conferta= (dense-flowered).* A synonym of _B. patococensis_.

=B. edulis= (edible). _fl._, outer segments rose, green tipped; inner spotted with rose. St. Domingo, &c. One of the oldest species in cultivation. The tubers are said by Tussac to be eaten in St. Domingo, like those of the Jerusalem Artichoke. See Fig. 263.

=B. frondea= (leafy). _fl._ 2in. long, tubulate-campanulate; outer segments narrow, oblong, yellow; inner segments 1/2in. longer than the outer ones, canary yellow, spotted with red; cymes umbellate, many-flowered, about 8in. across, base leafy. _l._ lanceolate, acuminate. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 669.)

=B. oligantha= (few-flowered).* _fl._ regularly funnel-shaped, about 1in. long; outer segments slightly shorter than the inner, oblanceolate, under 1/4in. abroad, obtuse, unspotted, reddish on the outside, yellow within; one or two to an umbel, on simple, flexuous, glabrous pedicels, about 1in. long. _l._ long, acute, about 2in. long, bright green on the upper surface, ciliated on the ribs beneath. Peru, 1877. See Fig. 264.

=B. patococensis= (Patococha). _fl._ 2in. to 2-1/2in. long, elongate-funnel-shaped; the three outer segments ovate lanceolate, about one-fourth shorter than the inner segments, both of a rich crimson colour; numerously borne in drooping, contracted tufts at the ends of the shoots; peduncles about 2in. to 2-1/2in. long, intermixed at the base with broadly ovate-acute, leafy bracts. August and September. _l._ scattered, shortly stalked, broadly lanceolate, tail pointed. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 187.)

=B. salsilla= (Salsilla). _fl._ purple, about 1/2in. long, the two inner segments having a darker spot at the base, and all of them tinged with green towards the points; collected into a terminal umbel. June. _l._ few, lanceolate. South America, 1806. This has proved quite hardy under various conditions.

=B. Shuttleworthii= (Shuttleworth's).* _fl._, perianth about 2in. long, funnel-shaped or elongate bell-shaped; segments nearly equal, oblong acute, outer ones orange vermilion, slightly tinged with green and dotted with small dark spots at the tips; inner ones more acutely pointed, canary yellow, with a red midrib, and green with dark spots at the tips; cymes umbellate, pendulous. _l._ ovate lanceolate, 5in. to 6in. by 2in., glabrous. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 77.)

=B. Williamsii= (Williams's).* _fl._ rose-coloured, about 2in. long, elongate funnel shape; disposed in a compound umbellate cyme. _l._ lanceolate, very acute, and tapering to a very short twisted petiole. New Grenada, 1882.

=BOMBACEÆ.= A division of _Sterculiaceæ_.

=BOMBAX= (from _bombax_, one of the Greek names for cotton; the pods are filled with a fine silky substance like cotton, but which it is impossible to spin into thread, in consequence of the edges being perfectly smooth). Silk Cotton Tree. ORD. _Malvaceæ_. A genus of large soft-wooded stove trees. Flowers scarlet or white, large, usually rising laterally from the trunk or branches, either singly or in clusters. They grow best in a rich loamy soil. Cuttings, not too ripe, taken off at a joint, placed in sand under a bell glass, in moist heat, will root readily; but plants raised from seeds brought from their natural habitats make finer trees.

=B. Ceiba= (Ceiba). _fl._ pale red, large. _l._ palmate, with five leaflets. _fr._ turbinate, concave at the apex. _h._ 100ft. South America, 1692.

=BOMBYX NEUSTRIA.= _See_ =Lackey Moth=.

=BONA-NOX.= _See_ =Ipomæa Bona-Nox=.

=BONAPARTEA.= _See_ =Tillandsia=.

=BONAPARTEA JUNCEA.= A synonym of _Agave geminiflora_.

=BONATEA.= (in honour of M. Bonato, a distinguished Italian botanist, and a Professor of Botany at Padua). ORD. _Orchideæ_. A handsome terrestrial stove orchid, allied to _Habenaria_, and requiring similar culture.

=B. speciosa= (showy).* _fl._ white, galeate; petals bipartite; raceme many-flowered, compact; bracts cucullate, acuminate. August. _l._ oblong, sub-undulate. Stem leafy. _h._ 2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1820. (B. M. 2926; L. B. C. 284.)

=BONGARDIA.= (named after Heinrich Gustav Bongard, a German botanist). ORD. _Berberideæ_. A very pretty hardy tuberous-rooted perennial, requiring a sandy soil, and good drainage, with protection at all seasons from excessive wet, otherwise it will rot. It should be carefully planted in a compost of loam, peat, leaf soil, and sand, in equal proportions, and covered with a handlight.

=B. Rauwolfii= (Rauwolf's). _fl._ golden yellow, on pyramidal branched panicles; stamens and petals nearly equal in length. May. _l._ radical, pinnate; leaflets sessile, oval-oblong, three to five-cleft at the apex, glaucous, each with a dark purple blotch at the base. _h._ 6in. Syria, Persia, 1740. SYN. _Leontice Chrysogonum_. (B. M. 6244.)

=BONNAYA= (named after Bonnay, a German botanist). ORD. _Scrophulariaceæ_. A small genus of usually glabrous, rarely pilose, slender, creeping or erect, annual, biennial, or perennial stove plants, almost unknown in cultivation. Flowers axillary, opposite, or alternate from abortion, usually pedicellate, the upper ones sometimes racemose, pinkish, or blue. Leaves opposite, quite entire, or toothed. They thrive in a rich sandy loam. The annual species are propagated by seeds, the others by divisions and cuttings.

=BONNETIA= (commemorative of Charles Bonnet, a French naturalist, who wrote some botanical papers in 1754). ORD. _Ternstrœmiaceæ_. A genus of elegant middle-sized stove trees or shrubs. Flowers large, terminal; peduncles one or many-flowered. Leaves scattered, exstipulate, coriaceous, entire, one-nerved, marked with transverse veins, sub-sessile, narrowed to the base. They thrive well in a mixture of loam and peat. Cuttings of firm young shoots will root if placed in sand under a hand glass, in a moderate heat.

=B. sessilis= (stalkless). _fl._ purplish, terminal. _l._ oblong, coriaceous, entire. _h._ 15ft. Guiana, 1819.

=BORAGE.= _See_ =Borago officinalis=.

=BORAGINACEÆ.= A large order of herbs or shrubs, having spirally-coiled inflorescence; corolla usually regular and five-lobed, with an imbricated æstivation; throat generally hairy; stamens five, inserted in the corolla. Leaves alternate, rough. Among other genera belonging to this order may be named _Anchusa_, _Borago_, _Cynoglossum_, _Echium_, _Lithospermum_, and _Myosotis_.

=BORAGO= (derivation very uncertain; probably a corruption of some eastern name). Borage. ORD. _Boraginaceæ_. A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials or annuals, excellently adapted for naturalising in dry stony places. Flowers blue, panicled, drooping; corolla rotate; throat furnished with emarginate vaulted processes; anthers distinct, oblong or lanceolate, awned, fixed by the inner side, conniving into a cone. Nuts four, one-celled, turbinate, fixed to the bottom of the calyx. Leaves oblong or lanceolate. All the species are easily cultivated, thriving in any common soil. Propagated by divisions, in spring, or by striking the young cuttings in a cold frame. They may also be raised from seed, which should be sown from March to May, in any good garden soil, and the plants, when large enough, thinned out to 1ft. or more apart. In hot weather, Borage is generally in demand for claret cup and other drinks.

=B. laxiflora= (loose-flowered).* _fl._ on long pedicels, racemose, drooping; corolla pale blue; segments ovate, bluntish, erectly spreading. May to August. _l._ oblong, and rough from strigæ; radical ones rosulate; cauline ones half stem-clasping. Stem decumbent, many from the same root, hispid from retrograde bristles. Corsica, 1813. (B. M. 1789.)

=B. longifolia= (long-leaved).* _fl._ disposed in a terminal bracteate panicle; corolla blue; segments ovate, acute, spreading. July and August. _l._ linear-lanceolate, scabrous and downy beneath; cauline ones half stem-clasping. _h._ 1ft. Numidia, 1825.

=B. officinalis= (officinal).* Common Borage. _fl._ blue, purple, or white; segments of the corolla limb ovate, acute, spreading. June to September. _l._, lower ones obovate, attenuated at the base; cauline ones oblong, sessile, sub-cordate at the base. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Britain. This is the kind most cultivated in gardens for flavouring. See Fig. 265. (Sy. En. B. 36.)

=BORASSUS= (a name applied by Linnæus to the spathe of the Date Palm). ORD. _Palmaceæ_. A very small genus of stove trees, containing two noble species, which are distinguished by unisexual flowers, produced upon distinct plants, the males being borne in dense branching catkins, and the females on simple, or, more rarely, slightly branched spikes. Fruit very large, brown, three-seeded. Leaves fan-shaped, with spiny petioles. Trunks unarmed, often 70ft. high. They may be grown in good fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand, mainly the former. Increased by seeds only, which require to be sown in strong bottom heat. Rarely seen in cultivation.

=B. æthiopicum= (African). _l._ nearly circular, and plaited, supported upon stout petioles, 6ft. to 7ft. long. Western Tropical Africa. This handsome, but rare, species is remarkable for the bulging out or swelling in its stem, near the middle, or about two-thirds of its height from the ground.

=B. flabelliformis= (fan-shaped).* _l._ nearly circular, and plaited like a partially-open fan, with about seventy ribs, which radiate from a common centre. _h._ 30ft. India, 1771.

=BORBONIA= (named after Gaston de Bourbon, Duke of Orleans, son of Henry IV. of France, a great lover and patron of botany). ORD. _Leguminosæ_. A genus of very ornamental greenhouse evergreen shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers yellow, disposed in terminal heads, axillary. Leaves simple, amplexicaul, alternate, exstipulate, pungent. They thrive well in a mixture of peat, loam, and sand, with good drainage. Cuttings, half-ripened, obtained in April, will root freely in sandy soil if placed under a bell glass, in a cool house.

=B. barbata= (bearded).* _fl._ sessile, villous on the outside. July. _l._ narrow, lanceolate, many-nerved, complicated, ciliately-bearded, and very much acuminated; branches diverging. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. 1823.

=B. cordata= (heart-shaped). _fl._, corolla densely villous, with the vexillum obcordate. July. _l._ cordate, many-nerved, quite entire, glabrous. Branches villous. _h._ 3ft. to 6ft. 1759.

=B. crenata= (crenated).* _fl._ less villous than in the rest of the species. July. _l._ cordate, roundish, acute, denticulated, many nerved and reticulated between the nerves, and are, as well as the branches, glabrous. _h._ 3ft. to 6ft. 1774. (B. M. 274.)

=B. lanceolata= (lance-shaped). _fl._ densely villous. July. _l._ ovate-lanceolate, pungent, many nerved, quite entire, sessile, glabrous, as well as the stem. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. 1752. (L. B. C. 81.)

=B. ruscifolia= (Ruscus-leaved). _fl._ sparingly villous. July. _l._ cordate, many-nerved, minutely ciliated, but are otherwise glabrous as well as the branches. _h._ 2ft. to 4ft. 1790. (B. M. 2128.)

=BORDERS, FLOWER.= Small beds, or a continuous bed, of greater length than width, skirting a wall or shrubbery, and containing plants of a heterogeneous character. They should be slightly raised above the surrounding level, and thoroughly drained. In the first preparation of the Border, it is most essential to deeply dig or trench the ground, thoroughly incorporating a large amount of well-bodied manure; and if the soil is very stiff, wood ashes or coarse sand should be well worked in with the manure. The best time to plant such Borders is in early autumn or in March.

Where, as is frequently the case, the Borders are only 2ft. or 3ft. wide, not more than two rows of plants, either in groups or singly, will be allowable. The tall plants or shrubs should constitute the background, with dwarfer subjects in front; but formal arrangements must be avoided. The object should be to secure a continuous succession of flowers. This would entail some little trouble at first, which, however, would be amply repaid by results.

No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down as to the arrangement of the plants, which depends on individual taste and means; but the best results are obtained when the border is mainly made up of hardy herbaceous perennials, as permanent occupants, assisted by liberal quantities of summer bedding plants, such as Dahlias, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Heliotrope, Tropæolums, &c., as well as many hardy annuals and biennials. By this means, a very varied and beautiful display may be maintained, especially if bulbs are used for early spring effect, such as Narcissi, Scillas, Snowdrops, Tulips, &c. Of course, the herbaceous perennials should be selected with much care, all weedy subjects being avoided, and variety in colour and time of flowering secured. Anything like a full list of these would occupy too much space for repetition here, but the following will be found very showy and useful: Achilleas, Aconitums, Anemones, Aquilegias, Armerias, Asters, Campanulas, Carnations and Picotees, Delphiniums, Dodecatheons, Doronicums, Fritillarias, Funkias, Gaillardias, Geraniums, Geums, Hollyhocks, Iberises, Irises, Liliums, Pæonies, Papavers, Pyrethrums, double and single, Ranunculus, Trolliuses, &c.

=BORDERS, FRUIT.= These should be well drained, and if not naturally so, the soil should be excavated from 3ft. to 5ft. deep, in order to form a bottom of stones, pieces of brick, clinkers, &c. Where it is convenient, draining pipes should be added, if an outfall in the vicinity can be secured. The base of the Border should be sloped to the front, where the pipes should be laid, and the bottom covered with draining material, thereby effectually preventing the fruit trees rooting deep, which is detrimental to healthy growth. Gross-feeding vegetables or flowers should not be grown on the surface, but shallow-rooting crops will generally do no harm. Many advocate the surface being kept free from crops of any sort, simply letting it be freely exposed; whilst others equally as strenuously condemn this plan. Where necessary, chalk or some other mineral constituent of good soil which is naturally absent, may be added; but much animal manure is rarely required. The depth and width of Border may vary for different fruit trees, but efficient drainage is in all cases important.

=BORECOLE= (_Brassica oleracea fimbriata_). An important division of the Brassica tribe, often cultivated in gardens under the name of Kale. It comes in very useful when hard weather has rendered cabbages, &c., unfit for use, as it endures cold better than most other green vegetables. Some are also grown as ornamental foliaged plants. Like all other plants of a similar description, they require rich soil, and they should be put out in June or early in July, as it is almost useless to plant this kind of vegetable after the middle of the latter month. To obtain the best results, the ground should be deeply dug and well manured; but it must not be full of crude manure at planting time, or it will make the plants too tender and succulent in wet seasons, with the result that the first sharp frost would cause them to rot. Good hard-stemmed plants are the kinds most needed, especially for crops required in spring, when green vegetables are scarce. Cultivation: Early in April, and again a month later for succession, the seeds should be sown thinly in nursery beds, not covering them too deeply. The soil should be in a friable condition, and it is an advantage if the first beds be made under a south wall. As soon as the seedlings appear, if they are too thick, they should be thinned, as those which are drawn up weak and spindly are useless. When large enough, they should be carefully planted out, choosing showery weather, if possible, for the operation. If it is necessary to plant them in dry weather, they must be well watered-in. The rows should be from 2ft. to 3ft. apart, according to the variety, and the plants 2ft. apart in the rows; or, if potatoes are planted wide apart, the Borecole may be arranged between them. Dead leaves must be cleared away from time to time, but no green ones should be broken off. When the tops are cut for use, the stems should not be denuded of foliage, as they will soon break again and form successional crops. The plants must be kept free from weeds. After April, the Kales are of little use; the stems may therefore be pulled up, and the ground planted with some other crop. They all require the same treatment, and at their various seasons come in equally useful.

_Sorts._ The distinct forms are somewhat limited, but being largely cultivated on the Continent as well as all parts of Britain on account of its hardy nature, the varieties of Borecole receive a large number of names that are either synonymous with, or indistinct from, a few well-known types. Dwarf Green Curled or Scotch is probably the best and most grown; other good hardy sorts are Asparagus Kale (this name is applied to several different kinds, the best one being in use very late in spring), Buda, Cottagers', Dwarf Purple, Imperial Hearting, Ragged Jack, and Tall Green Curled. Melville's Variegated and Variegated Borecole, amongst others, have fine ornamental foliage.

=BORONIA= (named after Francis Boroni, an Italian servant of Dr. Sibthorp, who perished from an accident at Athens; he collected specimens of many of those plants which are figured in the "Flora Græca"). ORD. _Rutaceæ_. Very elegant and useful shrubs, requiring similar treatment to ordinary greenhouse hard-wooded subjects, and much aided with a little extra heat in spring, when breaking into growth. Flowers pretty, pink-purplish, or white; peduncles terminal, but usually axillary on the extreme branches, one to many-flowered; pedicels furnished at the base and middle with two opposite, short bracts, jointed, commonly dilated under the calyx. Leaves opposite, simple, or impari-pinnate, entire, or a little serrulated, full of pellucid dots. They should be placed out of doors from July to the middle of September; the most convenient place for them is in pits, as there are then greater facilities for protecting them from heavy rains and thunderstorms. When first put out, Boronias should not be fully exposed, but in the course of a week they may remain open to the full influence of both sun and air. Potting should be performed once a year, as soon as the top growth ceases, as the roots then extend themselves in preparation for their next year's functions. The best compost for them is one of peat and maiden loam in equal parts, and about one-sixth sharp silver sand. Many cultivators, however, prefer a compost consisting of good fibry peat and silver sand, together with some pieces of charcoal, smaller or larger, according to the size of the pots used. The soil should be rammed firmly in the pots, which must be well drained. The leading shoots should be pinched, to ensure good bushy specimens. Propagation may be effected by young cuttings, or those made from the half-ripened wood; these should be put into a thoroughly drained pot of sandy soil, with 1in. of sand on the surface, and covered with a bell glass, which must be frequently taken off and wiped dry. When in the cutting state, water must be very carefully given around the rim of the pot, without taking off the glass. If placed in a temperature of about 50deg., and shaded from bright noonday sun, they soon root, when they may be potted off singly into small pots, and plunged in sawdust, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, in which situation but little water is needed. Pinching repeatedly, when young, is the only means to secure good ultimate growth. Air must be given on all possible opportunities.

=B. alata= (winged). _fl._ pale rose-colour, small; peduncles dichotomous, usually three-flowered; bracts fringed. May. _l._, leaflets three to five pairs, or more, crenate, revolute, pilose on the nerves beneath, as well as the rachis. _h._ 2ft. to 6ft. New Holland, 1823. (L. B. C. 1833.)

=B. anemonifolia= (Anemone-leaved). _fl._ pink; peduncles axillary, solitary, one-flowered. May. _l._ stalked, trifid; segments narrow, wedge-shaped, furnished with two or three teeth at the apex, or quite entire. _h._ 1ft. to 3ft. New Holland, 1824. (P. M. B. 9, 123.)

=B. crenulata= (crenulate).* _fl._ red, small, with a fringed calyx; pedicels axillary and terminal, one-flowered. July. _l._ obovate, mucronulate, crenulated. _h._ 1ft. to 4ft. King George's Sound. (B. M. 3915.)

=B. denticulata= (finely-toothed). _fl._ rose-coloured; bracts deciduous; peduncles corymbose. March to August. _l._ linear, retuse, toothleted, terminated by a small point. _h._ 2ft. to 6ft. King George's Sound, 1823. (B. R. 1000.)

=B. Drummondi= (Drummond's).* _fl._ pretty rosy pink, freely produced during spring and summer. _l._ pinnatifid. _h._ 2ft. New Holland. A very pretty species, with a slender but compact habit of growth. There is a white-flowered variety of this species (F. d. S. 9, 881.)

=B. elatior= (tallest).* _fl._ pendulous, rosy carmine, very fragrant, disposed in long dense clusters along the ends of the branches. May. _l._ very prettily pinnately cut into linear segments. _h._ 4ft. Western Australia, 1874. (B. M. 6285.)

=B. ledifolia= (Ledum-leaved). _fl._ red; peduncles axillary, one-flowered, each bearing two bracts in the middle. March. _l._ linear-lanceolate, quite entire, downy beneath. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. New Holland, 1814. (P. M. B. 8, 123.)

=B. megastigma= (large-stigma).* _fl._ numerous, axillary, fragrant, drooping, 1/2in. in diameter, sub-globose, campanulate; petals nearly orbicular, concave, maroon purple outside, and yellow within. _l._ sessile, pinnate, with three to five narrow linear rigid leaflets. _h._ 1ft. Of slender habit, with twiggy branches. South-western Australia, 1873. See Fig. 266.

=B. pinnata= (pinnate).* _fl._ pink, with a scent like that of Hawthorn; peduncles dichotomous. February to May. _l._, leaflets two, three or four pairs, linear, acute, quite smooth. _h._ 1ft. to 3ft. New Holland, 1794. (B. M. 1763.)