UC-NRLF
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
PRESENTED BY
PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND
MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID
THE
COTTAGE GARDENERS'
DICTIONARY.
DESCRIBING
THE PLANTS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES DESIRABLE FOR THE GARDEN,
AND EXPLAINING THE TERMS AND OPERATIONS EMPLOYED
IN THEIR CULTIVATION.
EDITED BY
GEORGE . JOHNSON, ESQ.,
KDITOR OF "THE COTTAGE GARDENER," "THE GARDENERS' ALMANACK," ETC.
LONDON:
WILLIAM S. ORR & CO., AMEN CORNER,
PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCOLII.
n I
PREFACE.
IT is not presumptuous, we think, to express our conviction that this volume will
supply a want which has long existed in gardening literature. We so think
because all previous Dictionaries concerning plants are rendered more or less
deficient for horticultural purposes by being too much occupied with botanical
details ; by being too large and expensive for general use ; by being too old to
include more than a small number of the plants now cultivated ; or from being
the production of one writer, necessarily imperfect in one or more departments
in which his knowledge happened to be deficient. It is believed that THE
COTTAGE GARDENERS' DICTIONARY is free from all these objections. Its botanical
details are no more than sufficient as a guide to fuller knowledge of the plants ;
it is the cheapest ever issued from the press ; it includes all plants known as
desirable for culture at the date of publication ; and every detail of cultivation is
either from the pen, or has passed under the supervision, of those well known for
appropriate skilfulness. We need only add, that we have endeavoured clearly
to explain all the usual gardening occupations and terms ; to give accurate
information relative to soil and manures, and to detail minutely the culture of
each plant ; as well as to admit none but such as are either desirable to have in
cultivation, or are in some way interesting.
It being always satisfactory to know who are our teachers, we think it
desirable and just to all parties, to state that Mr. BEATON, Gardener to Sir W.
Middleton, Bart., has furnished all the headings descriptive of each yenus, the
derivation of their names, with their botanical classification and nomenclature.
To Mr. FISH, Gardener to Colonel Sowerby, we are similarly indebted for the
general cultivation of each genus of flowering and ornamental plants ; to Mr.
ERRINGTON, Gardener to Sir P. Egerton, Bart., for the fruit culture and selection
of varieties ; to Mr. APPLEBY, Floricultural Manager to Messrs. Henderson, for
the same information relative to Florists' Flowers ; whilst on Mr. BAENES, Gar-
dener to Lady Rolle, Mr. WEAVEE, Gardener to the Warden of Winchester
College, and the EDITOR, have devolved the tenants of the kitchen garden. The
miscellaneous essays have been furnished by various hands, too numerous and
too combined to be particularized ; but the Editor does not shrink from being
responsible for them.
EXPLANATIONS.
IT seems only necessary to observe that, to facilitate the proper pronunciation of
the names, the vowel in the syllable on which the emphasis is to be laid is
denoted by an accent placed after the vowel: Thus, in ABE'LIA, the emphasis
is laid upon the BE ; and in floribu'nda on the bun. The other particulars
scarcely need any explanation. The specific name of each plant is translated
into English, and then follows the height of the plant (where the figure or
figures stand alone, either feet or the fraction of a foot being intended) ; the
colour of the flower ; the month when it begins to bloom ; the native place ; and
the year of introduction.
THE
COTTAGE GABDENEBS' DICTIONABY,
ABE
ABE'LE TREE. The White Poplar
(Populm alba).
ABE'LIA. (After Dr. Abel, Physician
to the embassage of Lord Amherst to
China. Nat. ord., Caprifoils [Caprifo-
liacese]. Linn. Sys., 5-Pentandria \-mo-
nogynia). Half-hardy evergreen
shrubs ; may be turned out into the
borders in summer. Cuttings in
summerin light turfy loam and peat,
and layers in spring.
A. floritu'nda (many - flowered. ) . 3.
Rosy purple. Requires a little
peat. March. Mexico. 1842.
rupe'stris (rock). 5. Pink and
white. September. China. 1844.
triflofra (three-flowered). 5. Pale
red. September. Hindostan.
uniflo'ra (one-flowered). 3. China.
A'BIES. See Pinus.
ABO'RTION. Too early or imperfect
development. In fruit, this frequently
occurs from a defect in the male or
female organs. If from the first, it may
be remedied by using pollen from other
ABR
a band of pale orange across each of the
fore-wings. The hind-wings are of the
same colours, but without any orange
colouring. The body is orange, spotted
with black. The female deposits her
eggs upon the leaf of a gooseberry or
A'BRICOCK. An old mode of spelling
APRICOT. (Armeni'aca vulgdris.}
ABR A' x AS grossularid ta. Magpie Moth.
The caterpillar of this moth often in-
fests the leaves of the gooseberry bush,
as well as of the currant, sloe, and even
the peach, in early summer. It is com-
mon during the evenings of July and
August. Usually about one and a half
inch across the expanded fore-wings,
which are very slightly yellowish white,
variously spotted with black, more or
less like those in ottr drawing, for the
marks are never uniform; and there is
currant tree, and, from these, little loop-
ing caterpillars come forth in September
(see a drawing of these and of the Chry-
salis in the Cottage Gardener, iv. 15), and
surviving the winter, begin to feed again
upon the leaves as soon as these open
in the spring. They are full grown to-
wards the end of May, and enter the
chrysalis state between that time and
the end of June. In this state they re-
main for about three weeks, and then the
perfect moth comes forth. The cater-
pillar is yellowish white, with an orange
stripe, more or less complete, on each
side, and with numerous black spots, the
largest on the back. The chrysalis is
black, with orange circles round the
pointed end. The caterpillar prefers the
leaves of the gooseberry and red currant ;
but, after stripping these to their very
stalks, it will feed upon those of the
ABR
[2]
ACA
sloe, peach, and almond. Hand-picking,
dusting with the powder of white helle-
bore, and burning the leaves early in
autumn, are the best remedies and pre-
vention against this marauder.
ABRO'MA. (From <r, not, and broma,
food, on account of its deleterious quali-
ties. Nat. ord., Byttneriads [Byttneri-
aceae]. Linn. Sys., \&-Polyadelphia 1-
dccandria.} Stove evergreen shrubs. Seed
in March in heat ; or cuttings of half-
ripe wood, April ; in strong heat under a
bell-glass ; loam and peat. Summer
temp., 65 to 75 ; winter 50 to 55.
A. augu'sta (smooth-stalked). 10. August.
Purple. East Indies. 1770.
fastuo'sa (prickly-stalked). 10. June to
October. Purple. New South Wales.
1800.
ABRO'NIA. (From abros; its involucrum
being delicate. Nat.ord.,./V^fa^0s [Nycta-
ginaceae]. Linn. Sys., 5-Pentandria 1-
tnonogynia. Allied to MiraMUs.} Half-
hardy perennial trailers. Slips and seeds ;
sandy peat, with a little leaf mould.
A. melli'fera (honey-bearing). 6 inches. July.
Orange. California. 1826.
pulclidlla (neat). 6 inches. July. Pink.
California. 1848.
ro'sea (rose-coloured) . 6 inches. California.
1847.
unibella'ia (umbel-flowered) . 6 inches. April
and May. Pink. California. 1823.
A'BRTJS precato'rius. Wild Liquorice.
(From the leaves being soft and delicate,
abros, and prayer, precatorius, because its
seeds are used for rosaries. Nat. ord.,
Mitnosads [Fabacea?]. Linn. Sys., 17 '-Di-
ctdelpMa\-decandria.] Stove climber. Cut-
tings in sand, under a glass ; sand and peat.
12. March to May. Pale Purple. West
Indies.
ABU'TILOX. (Arabic name for a plant
like a mallow. Nat. ord., Mallotvworts
[Malvaceso]. IAim.Sys.,W-Monadelphia8-
polyandria.^Greenhouse evergreen shrubs.
Cuttings in sand, under a close frame
or a glass, during summer. Light rich
loam and peat. Winter temp., 35 to 40.
A. posoniflo'rum (pceony-flowered) . Pink. Ja-
nuary. Brazil. 1845.
rufine'rve (red-nerved) . Pale yellow. Au-
gust. Rio Janeiro. 1845.
strict turn (striped). 10. Orange and red!
stripes ; continually blooming. Brazil. !
1837. In Hampshire and south of j
England large old plants flower freely j
turned out under a south wall, being j
there all but hardy.
ventfsum (veined). Orange and red !
stripes. July.
A. vitifo'Hum ..(vine-leaved). 6. White. July.
Chili. 1837. This is more hardy than
the other species.
This genus was much more numerous,
but about forty of its species have been
transferred to the genus SIDA.
ACA'CIA. (From akazo, to sharpen, on
account of the pricklincss of the species
first noticed. Nat. ord., Mimosads [Faba-
cese]. Linn, Sys., ZS-Pofygamial-moncecia.)
This genus is composed almost exclusively
of stove and greenhouse shrubs and trees.
Sandy loam and turfy peat ; cuttings of
the snoots taken off at a joint, and pieces
of the large roots, in sand and peat, under
a glass, in bottom heat ; but most of them
will ripen their seeds in a favourable sit-
uation. By seeds ; this is the best mode of
propagating them : sow in a slight hot-
bed in February or March; soak the
seeds in warm water for several hours
before sowing. Although the acacias are
all more or less beautiful, yet most of
them are so seldom seen under cultiva-
tion, that we have omitted great num-
bers. Those marked thus * are most de-
sirable. Winter temp, for stove species,
55 to 60; summer, 65 to 80; green-
house species, winter temp., 35 to 40.
STOVE SPECIES.
A. acantftoca'rpa (spine-podded). 10. Pale
red. New Spain. 1822.
acapulctf nsis (Acapulcan). White. Aca-
pulco. 1825.
ara'bica (Arabian). 20. White. East In-
dies. 1820. This tree produces gum
arabic.
Bancroftia? na (Bancroft's). 20. Jamaica.
brachyaca'ntha (short-spined). 4. South
America. 1824.
Burma/uua'na (Burmann's). 6. Ceylon.
1818.
ca'sia (grey). 20. Yellow. East Indies.
1773.
catechu' (catechu). 40. Pale yellow.
East Indies. 1790. This tree produces
that most powerful astringent, catechu.
The bark of all the other species also
abounds in astringent principle, useful
for tanning.
centroplty'lla (spur-leaved). 20. Wuite.
Jamaica. 1818.
ceratcfnia (ceratonian). 3. White. South
America. 1800.
chryso' stachys (golden-spiked). 15. Mauri-
tius. 1824.
conci'nna (neat). 20. White. East Indies.
1823.
Cvncordia'na (Concord's). 12. East Indies.
1818.
copalli'na (copal). 20. 1825.
* corni'gcra (horn -bearing). 15. Pale
yellow. South America. 1692.
ACA
[3]
ACA
i.coronUhrfu'lia (coronilla-leaved) . 10. North
Africa. 1817.
-di'ptera (two-winged). 20. White. South
America. 1818.
- diimft'sa (bushy). 20. East Indies. 1818.
-ebvirnea (ivory-thorned) . 5. Yellow. East
Indies. 1792.
-ddulis (eatable-fruited). 20. East Indies.
1820.
- *far>iesia'na (farnesian). 15. Yellow.
July. St. Domingo. 1656.
- ferntgi' nea (rusty). East Indies. 1818.
-filici'na (fern-leaved). 20. Mexico. 1825.
-formo'sa (beautiful). 10. White. Mexico.
1825.
- f rondo' sa (leafy). 30. White. East Indies.
1816.
-fntt'co'sa (shrubby). 4. East Indies. 1820.
-gira'ffce (cameleopard's). 40. Cape of Good
Hope. 1816.
-grtf ta (grateful). 10. Brazil. 1820.
- guiane'mis(guiaiia). White. Cayenne. 1803.
- Guayarjuiltfnsis (guayaquil). 10. Guayaquil.
1818.
- hcemato'xt/lon (bloody-wooded). 20. Yellow
white. Cape of Good Hope. 1816.
- hetcroma'lla (one side woolly-leaved). Yel-
low. June. New Holland. 1818.
- In'tsia (intsia). 20. Yellow white. East
Indies. 1778.
- * Jacam'nda (jacaranda-like). 20. Yellow
white. South America. 1825.
-kalko'ra (kalkora). 45. East Indies. 1818.
-kermesi'na (kermesina). Purple.
- latisl'liqiia (broad-podded). 10. Pink.
May. West Indies. 1777.
- laurifo'lia (laurel-leaved). 4. Yellow.
May. Tanna. 1775.
- Mlbcck (loebach). 20. Pink. May. Egypt.
1823.
- lentiscifo'Ua (lentiscus-lcaved). 20. Mexico.
1824.
- leptophy'lla (slender-leaved). 20. South
America. 1824.
- leucophkffa (white.) 12. Pale yellow.
East Indies. 1812.
- lu'cida (shining). 40. East Indies. 1820.
- macranthoi'des (long-spined.) 20. Jamaica.
1820.
- Ha'ngiwn (Mangium's). 10. Yellow. East
Indies. 1820.
- micropliiflla (small-leaved). 10. Caraccas.
1826.
- odorati' ssima (most fragrant). 40. White.
East Indies. 1790.
-oligophifUa (few-leaved). 4. Yellow. 1817.
- pinna' ta (feather-leaved). 20. Yellow.
East Indies. 1773.
-pilcfsa (downy). 30. White. Jamaica. 1800.
-pfamofjtt (feathery-leaved). 20. Yellow.
A climber.
-portoricefnsis (Porto Rico.) 6. White. July.
West Indies. 1824.
-prisma'tica (prismatic). 6. Yellow. 1818.
- * piilcJufrrima (fairest). 10. Brazil. 1823.
- quadrangula' ris (4-angled). 4. White. Au-
gust. 1825.
-Rokria'na (Rohr's). 30. White. 1823.
-Ro'ssii (Ross's). 40. 1822.
-sarmento'sa (twiggy). 10. 1820. A climber.
- sca'ndens (climbing). 10. Purple. India.
1780. A climber.
A. semicorda'ta (half-heart-shaped). 40. East
Indies. 1820.
Seneaa'l (Senegal). 30. White. Africa.
1823.
Seri'ssa (Shireesh). 20. East Indies. 1822.
specio'sa (showy). 10. Purple. August.
East Indies. 1742.
Spi'ni (Spine : s). 15. Red yellow.
utipula'ta (large stipuled). 20. White.
Bengal. 1800.
tamarindifu'lia (tamarind-leaved). 4. White.
West Indies. 1774.
tomen to' sa (woolly). 20. East Indies. 1816.
tricho'des (hairy). 10. Pale yellow. Peru.
1818.
va'ga (common). 40. White. Brazil. 1818.
venvtsta (charming). 6. Pink. South
America. 1816.
ve'ra (true, Egyptian thorn). 12. White.
July. Egypt. 1596.
mrtfscens (strong-growing). 20. South
America. 1829.
Wattichia'na (Wallich's). 10. East Indies.
1820.
GREENHOUSE SPECIES.
A. aUeti'na (fir-like). 4. Yellow. May. New
Holland. 1823.
* affi'nis (kindred). 5. Yellow. May. New
Holland. 1822. This is the Green
Wattle Mimosa of the settlers.
ala'ta (wing-stalked). 6. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1803.
amafn a (pleasing). 5. Yellow. Mav. New
Holland. 1820.
angula'ta (angular). 26. Yellow. June
New Holland. 1820.
angustifo'lia (narrow-leaved). 2. Yellow.
April. New South Wales. 1816.
* arma'ta (armed, simple leaved). 10. Yel-
low. May. New Holland. 1803.
a'spera (rough) . 4. Yellow. May. New
Holland. 1824.
blflo'ra (two-flowered). 3. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1803.
binerva'ta (two-nerved). 8. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
brevifo'lia (short-leaved). 3. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1820.
brcfvipes (short-stalked). 6. Yellow. New
South Wales.
b uxifo'lia (box-leaved). 4. Yellow. April.
New Holland. 1824.
calamifo' lia (reed-leaved). Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1823.
canalicula'ta (channeled). Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
celastrifo' lia (celasti'us-leaved). 6. Yellow.
May. Swan River. 1842.
ci7m'ta(cialiate-winged). 8. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1803.
cincra'scens (ash-coloured). 10. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1824.
cochlea' ris (spoon-leaved). 4. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1818.
confefrta (crowded). Yellow. April. New
Holland. 1824.
coria'cea (leathery-leaved). 5. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1825.
crassica'rpa (thick-fruited). 6. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1824.
ACA
ACA
A. cultra'ta (knife-shaped). 15. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1820. Same
as cult rifo'r mis.
cunea'ta (wedge-shaped). Yellow. April.
Swan River. 1837.
cyanophff lla (blue-leaved). Yellow. April.
Swan River. 1838.
- - Cycltfpis (Cyclopis-like'i. 4. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
Daviesiaftflia (Daviesia-leaved) . 6. Yel-
low. June. New Holland. 1817.
- dcalba' ta (whitened). 10. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1823.
* deci'piens prcemo'rsa (deceiving, bitt en-
leaved). 3. Yellow. May. New
Holland. 1830.
* decifrrens (decurrent). 6. Yellow. June.
New South Wales. 1790.
: denti'fera (tooth-bearing). Yellow. April.
Swan River. 1839.
depe'ndens (weeping). Yellow. March.
Van Dieman's Land. 1819.
cleftinens (detaining). 3. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1828.
* Di'lhrynicefo'lia (Dillwynia-leaved). 3.
Yellow. May. New Holland. 1828.
tli'ptera (two-winged) .
erio'ptcra (woolly-winged) . Yellow,
September. Swan River. 1840.
di'scolor (two-coloured). 10. Yellow. May.
New South Wales. 1784.
divarica'ta (straggling). 6. White. April.
New Holland. 1827.
* dolabrifo'rmis (hatchet-leaved). 6. Yel-
low. June. New Holland. 1814.
echi'nufa (prickly). 4. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
donga' ta (long-branched). 6. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
cmargina'ta (single-notched-leaved). 8.
Yellow. April. New Holland. 1824.
erioca'rpa (woolly-fruited). Pale Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1845.
erioda'dus (woolly-branched). Yellow.
June. New Holland. 1849.
Estcrha'zia (Prince Esterhazy's) . 4. Yel-
low. May. New Holland. 1824.
*falca' ta (sickle-leaved). 6. Yellow. May.
New South Wales. 1790.
falcifo'rmis (sickle-shaped). 6. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1818.
*floribu'nda (many-flowered). 6. Yellow.
May. New South Wales. 1825.
glau'ca (milky- white). 5. White. July.
South America. 1696.
* gra'ndis (great). Golden yellow. March.
New Holland. 1846.
grave'olens (strong-smelling). 15. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1820.
gummi'fera (gum-bearing). 30. Guinea. 1823.
hastula'ta (halbert-leaved). 4. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1824.
heteraca'ntha (varied-prickled). 15. Cape
of Good Hope. 1816.
heterophy'lla (variable-leaved). 5. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1824.
hisptdi'psima (hairiest). 3. White. Jamaica.
1800.
* holoscri'cea (all silky). Yellow. April.
New Holland. 1820.
homoma'lla (equal-woolled). 6. Yellow.
June. New Holland. 1822.
A. * Huge' Hi (Baron Hugel's). Pale Yellow,
February. New Holland. 1846.
humifu'sa (trailing). New Holland. 1820.
ht/brida .(hybrid). 5. Yellow. May. Hy-
brid. 1822.
intermedia (intermediate). 8. Yellow.
New Holland.
interte'xta (interwoven). 6. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
*juniperi'na (juniper-leaved). 6. Yellow.
May. New South Wales. 1790.
Latnbcrti-a' na (Lambert's). Purple. May.
Mexico. 1818.
lani'gera (woolly). 6. Yellow. April.
New Holland. 1824.
Lawso'ni (Lawson's). New South Wales.
leptoca'rpa (slender-podded). 6. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1821.
leucophy 1 'lla (white-leaved). 6. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1822.
ligula'ta (strap-shape-leaved). Yellow.
March. New South Wales. 1818.
linerf ris (linear). 3. Yellow. May. New
South Wales. 1820.
* longfssima (longest-leaved) . 4. Yellow.
May. New South Wales. 1819.
mo'llis (soft). 6. Yellow. July. New
Holland. 1810.
platyphtflla (broad-leaved). 10. Yellow.
June. New Holland. 1820.
Richardso'ni (Richardson's). 10. Yellow.
June. New Holland. 1822.
serica'ta (silky). Yellow. April. New.
Holland.* 1820.
Si'iHsii (Sims's). Yellow. April. New
Holland. 1819.
* so'phoree (sophora -podded). JO. Yellow
May. Van Dieman's Land. 1805.
* specta'bilis (remarkable). Yellow. April.
New South Wales. 1837.
squama' t a (scaly). Yellow. April. New
Holland. 1836.
stenophy'Ua (short -leaved). Yellow. March.
New South Wales. 1818.
stri'cta (double-headed). 2. Yellow. March.
New South Wales. 1790.
stro'mbulif^ra (spiral-podded). 8. Peru.
1825.
suave 1 olcns (sweet-scented 1 ). 4. Yellow.
April. New South Wales. 1790.
subula'ta (awl-shaped). 4. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
sulca'ta (furrowed-leaved). 2. Yellow.
July. New Holland. 1803.
* taxifit'Ua (yew -leaved). 4. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1823.
trapezoi'dcs (trapezium -leaved). 4. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1810.
trinerva'ta (three-nerved). 6. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1820.
tri'stis (dull green-coloured). 18. Yellow.
March. New Holland. 1828.
uinbella'ta (umbellate). Yellow. April.
New Holland. 1819.
uncina'ta (hook-leaved). 4. Yellow. May.
New South Wales. 1819.
undvlvfiflia (wave-leaved). 4. Yellow.
May. New Holland. 1824.
urophy'Ua (tail-leaved). Pale yellow. April.
Swan River. 1836.
vcrnici' ftita (varnish -flowing). 6. Yellow.
April. New Holland. 1818.
ACA
[5]
ACA
A. *vert.iciUrt ta (whorl-leaved). 10. Yellow.
April. Van Diemen's Land. 1780.
angu'sta (narrow-leaved) . 10. Yel-
low. April. New Holland. 1780.
latift/lia (broad-leaved). 10. Yel-
low. April. New Holland. 1780.
vesti'ta (clothed). 6. Yellow. June. New
Holland. 1820.
vimiiia'lis (twiggy). Yellow. April. New
Holland. 1820.
virga'ta (branchv). 4. Yellow. May.
New Holland. 1824.
viridira'mis (green-branched). 4. Yellow.
Cape of Good Hope. 1816.
vomerifo' rmis (plough-share shaped). Yel-
low. April. New Holland. 1818.
HALF-HARDY SPECIES.
A.julibri'ssia (silk-tree). 20. White. August.
Levant. 1745.
ACANTHOPHI'PPIUM. (From acmthos, a
thorn, and ippi-on, a horse, but why is
not apparent. Nat. ord., Orchids [Orchid-
aceoe]. Linn. Sys., 20-Gynandria l-mon-
andria}. Loam and peat in a rough state ;
division or pseudo bulbs ; 50 to 60
when at rest ; 70 to 80 when growing.
A. bi' color (two-coloured). Yellow and red.
June. Ceylon. 1833.
java'nicum (Javanese) . Crimson rose. August
Java. 1844.
stria' turn (striped-flowered). White-striped.
June. Nepaul.
sylhete'nse (sylhet). White. June. Sylhet.
1837.
ACANTHOSTA'CHYS. (Acanthos, a spine,
stachys, a spike. Nat. ord., Bromeliads
[Bromeliacese]. Linn. Sys., -Hexandria,
\-monogynid). Stove herbaceous plant.
Suckers ; equal parts of sand, leaf mould
and decayed wood.
A. strobila'cea (cone-fruited). Red and Yel-
low. June. Brazil. 1840.
ACA'NTHUS. Bear's Breech. (Acanthos,
a spine ; some being prickly. Nat. ord.,
Acanthads [Acanthaceae]. Linn. Sys., 14-
Didynamia, 1-angiospermia.} Herbaceous
plants. Seeds and root division ; light
rich garden soil.
HARDY SPECIES.
A. hispa'nicus (Spanish). 2. White. August.
Spain. 1700.
mofllis (soft). 3. White. August. Italy, 1548.
The leaves of this are said to have
given rise to the Corinthian style in
architecture.
ni'ger (black). 3. White. August. Portu-
gal. 1759.
spinosi' ssimus (most spiny). 3. White.
August. South of Europe. 1629
spinofsus^ (spiny). 3. White. August.
GREENHOUSE SPECIES.
carduifo'lius (thistle-leaved). 1. Blue
August. Cape of Good Hope. 1816.
A'CARUS. The Mite. Those most fre-
quent in our gardens are the following :
A. tetta'rius. The Red Spider. This
is one of the gardener's greatest pests,
NATtKAL SIZE, AND MAGNIFIED.
though so small as to be scarcely visible
to the naked eye ; yet when a plant is
much infested by them it has the appear-
ance of being scorched. Coloiir some-
times yellowish, at others brown, but
oftener a dull red ; on each side of its
back is a blackish spot. In November
it may be found under the bark of the
lime-tree ; but at all times it is to be
found in greenhouses and hothouses that
have been kept too hot and dry. In the
summer time it may be found, occa-
sionally in myriads, upon the under
sides of the leaves of kidney-beans and
limes; even the apple, pear, and plum
suffer much from its ravages, as well as
various in-door plants. The injury they
occasion by sucking chiefly the elabo-
rated sap, and by their webs embarrass-
ing the breathing of the plant through
the pores of its leaves, is told by the
brown colour which these assume. To
destroy these insects in the greenhouse,
or hothouse, or cucumber-frame for
they attack this plant also there is no
plan so effectual as heating the hot- water
pipes of the houses, or having hot- water
plates, filled with boiling water, placed
in the frames, sprinkling upon them
flowers of sulphur, which begin to va-
porize at a heat of 170, and then shut-
ting up the houses or frames. The
ACA
[6]
ACC
vapour of sulphur is fatal to these insects
where the air is thoroughly impregnated
with it, and the work of destroying them
is completed by syringing the infested
plants with water, continuing rather fre-
quently the operation. This last is the
most practical remedy to plants in our
borders, unless they can be covered over
so that the fumes of the sulphur may be
confined, whilst the sulphur is volatilised
over a hot-water plate. Potted plants
may be submitted to the vapour of sul-
phur in a similar way ; but in every
instance be cautious that the sulphur
does not burn, or you will kill your
plants. The vapour of spirit of turpen-
tine is said to be as effectual as sulphur.
On walls, the best plan is to beat up
soft soap in warm water, three ounces to
the gallon ; and to add as much finely
dissolved clay as will make the whole a