This climbing-plant is a native of South America, and belongs to the family of _Cinchonaceae_. The rind of the root has emetic properties, and is used in Brazil for dropsy and othe...
This hardy perennialalpine is very effective on rock-work, especially in front of dark stones; but provision must be made for its long tap roots. A rich, deep loam suits it well. I...
A very beautiful half-hardy biennial, but difficult tocultivate. Some gardeners steep the seed in hot water before sowing it; but the best way seems to be to sow it in July in 3-in...
Handsome and free-flowering half-hardy annuals. Thegreenhouse varieties thrive in a mixture of loam and peat, and cuttings root easily if planted in sand under glass. The African a...
The Chinese date plum or persimmon. The fruits vary in size from that of a medium-sized apple to that of a large pear; they also vary much in their flavor and consistency, some bei...
The root of this plant is called Herbe du Diable in San Domingo; it is acrid in the highest degree, and is a most energetic blistering agent when fresh.
Granada, and Murcia by the Moors. In the fifteenth century it was introduced into the Canary Islands by the Spaniards and to Madeira by the Portuguese, and thence to the West India...
This very choice Boragewort is a trailing hardybiennial. It produces lovely pale pendent flowers from June to August, will grow in almost any soil, and can be increased by seed or...
Hardy annuals of great value where there arebees, the flowers being very sweet. Sow in the open in spring. Height, 1 ft.
This plant belongs to the family of _Apocynaceae_, which contains many poisonous species. It is often cultivated for the beauty of its flowers; the leaves are considered a valuable...
The astringent fruits of this tropical plant are employed for tanning and dyeing, and are sometimes met with in commerce under the name of myrobalans, and used by calico printers f...
This hardyherbaceous perennial is very useful for mixing with cut flowers. It will grow anywhere, but prefers a clayey soil and a boggy situation, and may be increased by dividing...
Perfectly hardy plants, bearing in June blue orwhite flowers the size of a shilling. The bulbs may be planted in spring in any garden soil; the plants are increased by off-sets. He...
An Amazonian palm called Inaja. The spathes are so hard that, when filled with water, they will stand the fire, and are sometimes used by the Indians as cooking utensils. The India...
This tree yields the drug known as Simaruba bark, which is, strictly speaking, the rind of the root. It is a bitter tonic. It is known in the West Indies as the mountain damson.
An evergreen greenhouse shrub. Place in equalparts of sand and loam, and propagate by cuttings, which should have plenty of room, as they are liable to damp off. July is its flower...
See "Mimosa."
Effective variegated shrubs which prove perfectly hardyin the south of England. They grow in any ordinary soil, and are increased by cuttings. Height, 10 ft.
A good, deep, loamy soil, well drained, but which retains acertain amount of moisture, is the most suitable. The position should be sheltered, yet open and exposed to the sun. The...
A plant of the nettle family, which yields the fiber known as Chinese grass. The beautiful fabric called grasscloth, which rivals the best French cambric in softness and fineness o...
A beautiful twining shrub belonging to the Passiflorafamily. It should be provided with a rich soil, and, as the flowers are produced upon the lateral shoots, it requires frequent...
A plant of the mallow family; the bark contains fibrous tissues available for the manufacture of cordage. The root of _S. acuta_ is esteemed by the Hindoos as a medicine, and parti...
This hardy annual is commonly known as Hare's-TailGrass. It is distinctly ornamental, producing elegant egg-shaped tufts of a silvery-white hue, and is fine for ornamenting bouquet...
Hardy perennials, requiring a light, rich soil, or loamand peat. They may be raised from seed, or increased by dividing the roots in spring. H. Multijugum bears rich purple flowers...
A fine climbing plant with handsome foliage and anabundance of fine yellow flowers. Quite hardy. Sow on a hotbed early in spring, and when sufficiently large and strong, pot off, p...
This coniferous plant is a native of Barbary. It yields a hard, durable, and fragrant timber, and is much employed in the erection of mosques, etc., by the Africans of the North. T...
This plant is interesting from the circumstance of its being held sacred in Nubia, where the inhabitants celebrate their religious festivals under it by moonlight, and poles made o...
The arenga palm, which is of great value to the Malays. The black horsehair like fiber surrounding its leaf-stalks is made into cordage; a large amount of toddy or palm wine is obt...
Distinct and very pretty evergreen climbingshrubs, which prove hardy in the south and west, but need protection in other places. They are not particular as to soil, and may be incr...
The orange, generally supposed to be a native of the north of India. It was introduced into Arabia during the ninth century. It was unknown in Europe in the eleventh century. Orang...