"See there upon the broom-tree's bough The young grey eagle flapping now." BOWRING'S RUSSIAN ANTHOLOGY. The blossom of the Common Broom closely resembles that of the Furze, both in form and colour-that Furze which sheds such a lustre over our heaths and commons, and at sight of which, it is said, Dillenius fell into a perfect ecstasy. In many parts of Germany the Furze-bush is unknown. Gerarde says, that about Dantzic, Brunswick, and in Poland, there was not a sprig of either Furze or Broom; and it is really a striking sight to come suddenly upon a common, glowing, as it were, in one great sea of gold. Gerarde adds, that, in compliance with earnest and repeated entreaties, he sent seeds to these places, and that the plants raised from them were curiously kept in the finest gardens. Furze bears various names in different parts of England: Furze in the south, Whin in the east, and Gorse in the north. "The prickly gorse, that, shapeless and deformed, And dangerous to the touch, has yet its bloom, COWPER'S TASK. "Or from yon swelling downs, where sweet air stirs KEATS'S ENDYMION. St. Pierre evidently alludes to the Furze-bush in the following passage: "I saw in Brittany a vast deal of uncultivated land; nothing grows upon it but Broom, and a shrub with yellow flowers, which appeared to me a composition of thorns. The country people called it Lande, or San they bruise it, to feed their cattle. The Broom serves only to heat their ovens. It might be turned to better account. The Romans made cord of it, which they preferred to hemp, for their shipping."-ST. PIERRE'S VOYAGE TO THE ISLE OF FRANCE. BROWALLIA-CAMELLIA JAPONICA. 83 It is also called in different parts of France, Jone Marin [Sea-rush]; Porc Marin [the Sea-hog]; Lande Epineuse [Thorny Heath]. Its botanical name is Ulex. BROWALLIEE. BROWALLIA. DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. So named by Linnæus, from Job Browallius, Bishop of Aboa. THIS is but an annual plant, and must be raised in a hot-bed; but it is worth procuring for its short-lived beauty, on account of the extreme brilliancy of the colours. "We cannot,” says Mr. Curtis, "do justice to it by any colours we have." There are but two kinds: the Upright, and the Branching. The former is the handsomest. It is a native of Peru, and flowers from July to September. It should be kept within doors till June; and, in dry and hot weather, should be frequently, but sparingly, watered. CAMELLIA JAPONICA. CAMELLIADEÆ. MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. So named in honour of Joseph Kamel, a jesuit, whose name is usually spelled Camellus. This tree is sometimes called Japan Rose THIS beautiful evergreen must be sheltered from the middle of September till the beginning of June. In the summer, when the weather is dry, it should be watered every evening, or second evening, according to the heat of the sun in the winter once a week will suffice, and that should be at noon. There are double and single varieties; white, purple, and red of each. This tree has the appearance of a bay bearing roses, much more than the rhododendron, which, from some fancied resemblance of that sort, is also named rose-bay. There are several other Camellias, requiring the same treatment as this, which is the handsomest species. Had the Camellia been a Greek, or Italian, or English plant, there would have been a great deal said of it by poets and lovers; and doubtless it makes a figure in the poetry of Japan. But, unfortunately for our quotations, though perhaps fortunately for their own comfort, the Japanese have hitherto had most of their good things to themselves. Their country would lay open a fine field for the botanist. See an interesting account of this apparently intelligent and amiable people in Golownin's Narrative of his Captivity among them. There are two superb collections of the Camellia Japonica open to the public: one at Vauxhall, the other at Hackney. In Japan an oil is expressed from the seeds of the Camellia Japonica, which is constantly used in preparing food. The species called the Camellia Sasanqua is a small shrub, so exactly like the tea-shrub, both in leaf and blossom, that they are not readily distinguished but by their size. The leaves have a pleasing scent, and, after being boiled, are used by the Japanese ladies to wash their hair. They are likewise sometimes mixed with the tealeaves to make their scent yet more agreeable *. ! CAMPANULACEA. CAMPANULA. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Italian, campanella.-French, campanule, or campanette.-English, Bell-flower. These names signify a little bell, and were given to the flower on account of its bell-like shape. MILLAR mentions seventy-eight kinds of Campanula, of which it will be sufficient to specify some of the most de * Sce Thunberg's Travels, vol. iv. p. 38 and 120. sirable; as the Venus's Looking-glass, which has usually a handsome purple flower, but sometimes white. This plant takes its name from the glossiness of the seeds. It is also called Corn-Gilliflower, and Corn-Pink: in French, Miroir de Venus, but at Paris, la Doucette: in Italian, Specchio di Venere. It is a native of the south of Europe. Plants sown in.. the autumn will flower in May, a month earlier than those sown in the spring. The seeds may be sown about an inch asunder; the earth should be kept moist, and the plant should remain in the open air. The roots of this species are annual. The Peach-leaved Campanula is a perennial. The flowers are blue or white; double and single varieties of each. This may be increased by parting the roots, which should be done in September. It will thrive in any soil or situation. The Giant Throatwort is a native of England and most, parts of Europe. It has a purple or white flower, which blows in July and August. This species loves shade. The Giant Throatwort is mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in the poem of Rokeby; and he observes in a note, that it grows in profusion upon the beautiful banks of the River Greta, where it divides the manors of Brignell and Scargill, about three miles from Greta bridge: "he laid him down, Where purple heath profusely strown, And throatwort with its azure bell, And moss, and thyme, his cushion swell." ROKEBY, 4to Edit. p. 112. Great Throatwort, Canterbury Bells, called in French la Cloche [Bell], la Clochette [Little Bell], les Gands de Notre Dame [Our Lady's Gloves], is a native of Europe and Japan. It has purple or white flowers, blowing in July and August. This species may be increased in the same manner as the Peach-leaved, but prefers a loamy soil: they are both very hardy. The name of Throatwort was given to these plants from a notion that they would cure inflammation and swelling of the throat. The lesser Canterbury Bells have purple, brilliant blue, or white flowers, which continue from June to September. This prefers a dry chalky soil: in a rich soil the flowers are apt to lose their colour. This is the Calathian Violet; also called Autumn Bell-flower, Autumn Violet, and Harvest Bells. The Medium, or Coventry Bells,-in French, Mariettes, and in Italian, Viola Mariana [Mary's Violet]-to which Gerarde gives the name of Mercury's Violets, have large and handsome flowers, blowing in June: their colours, blue, purple, white, or striped. The Campanulas here enumerated, and such others as are not natives of the Cape, are sufficiently hardy to endure the open air in the winter, although some of them are sheltered while seedlings. Most of them may be increased by cuttings or seeds. Those raised from cuttings flower more quickly; those from seeds are considered as the strongest. They should be sparingly watered. There is a species of Campanula which is trained to conceal fire-places in the summer, and has a very pretty effect when so used. It is the Pyramidal Campanula; la Pyramidale des Jardins of the French. The roots send out three or four strong upright stalks, which grow nearly four feet high, and are garnished with smooth oblong leaves and an abundance of large blue flowers. These upright stalks send out short side-branches, which are also adorned with flowers; so that, by spreading the upright stalks to a flat frame composed of slender laths, the whole plant is formed into the shape of a fan, and will perfectly |