camellias, with which genus they are united by various botanists. The leaves are large, shining, laurel-like, and the flowers white, axillary, pediceled, and sweet-scented. The culture may be considered the same as that of the camellia, but some of the species are less hardy. 1. T. VIRIDIS L. The common, or green Tea. Identification. Lin. Sp., 735.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 577. Synonymes. T. Bohèa stricta Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 30S.; T. 102 2. T. BOHE A L. The Bohea, or Black, Tea. Identification. Lin. Sp., 743.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 577. Synonymes. T. chinensis 3 Bohèa Sims, Bot. Mag., t. 998.; Dec. Prod.,1. p. 530. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves elliptical-oblong, obtuse, crenated, twice as long as broad. Flowers of 5 sepals, and 5 petals, axillary, twin or ternary. (Don's Mill., i. p. 577.) An evergreen shrub, with dark green leaves, much smaller than those of the preceding species; and white flowers, also smaller, but fragrant. Introduced from China in 1780, and generally treated as a frame or green-house plant. History, Uses, &c. The genus Thea (forming the Theacea of Mirbel, and included in the Camellièe of Jussieu and De Candolle) is almost exclusively confined to China, Japan, and some of the neighbouring islands; but, as the species are plants which have been cultivated for an unknown length of time, it is difficult to ascertain their native country. Of late, the Thèa víridis has been discovered in Upper Assam through an extent of country of one month's march, and within the East India Company's territories, from Sadiya and Beesa to the Chinese frontier of the province of Yunnan, where the shrub is cultivated for the sake of its leaf. This discovery was made in 1826, by Mr. David Scott; and an account of it is given in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of India for January 1835, and in the Gardener's Magazine, vol. xi. p. 429. It appears that the inhabitants of these countries are in the habit of boiling the stalks and leaves, and then squeezing them into a ball, which they dry in the sun, and then retain for use. Much has been written on the plant which produces the tea of commerce. Dr. Lettsom, who wrote a pamphlet on the subject in 1772, asserts that all the different kinds of tea brought to Europe are the produce of Thèa víridis, and that the whole difference in the qualities of teas depends, not on the species of plant, but on the soil and climate in which the plants are grown, the different ages and periods at which the leaves are gathered, and the dif ferent modes of preparing and drying them. A green tea plant, he asserts, planted in the bohea tea country, will produce bohea tea; and a plant from the bohea tea country, planted in the green tea country, will produce green tea. Among all the different opinions that have been advanced on the subject, this appears to us by far the most plausible. It is said, however, that Thea Bohèa is cultivated in the southern provinces, as the Thea víridis is in the north; and that hyson, and all its numerous varieties, are made from the latter; and bohea, and all its varieties, from the former: but, comparing the price of green and black tea in this country, and the quantity of the latter which is consumed in proportion to that of the former, it is difficult to believe that the black teas are all made from the leaves of Thea Bohèa, which is a very distinct species, constitutionally much more tender than Thea viridis, and of comparatively slow and diminutive growth. From Kæmpfer, Thunberg, and Siebold we learn that the tea plant is extensively cultivated in Japan, the various islands of which extend from 30° to 41° of north latitude; from which, in considering its extensive culture in China, and the great extent of territory where it is found indigenous, it is easy to conceive that its varieties may be as numerous as those of the grape vine or the apple are in the south of Europe. Mr. Reeves has disputed, in Gard. Mag., vol. ix. p. 713, 714., the correctness of some of Mr. Main's statements. Whoever wishes to pursue this subject at greater length, and to consult a digest of all that has been hitherto written on it, may peruse Royle's Illustrations, from p. 108. to p. 113. The Thea viridis is sufficiently hardy to stand the air in the neighbourhood of London, with little or no protection. There are bushes of it from 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, and 20 ft. or more in circumference, in the Mile End Nursery, which, in severe winters, have only a little pea-haulm or a mat thrown over them. There are, also, large plants at Syon, at Purser's Cross, at Vere's Villa, at Brompton, at Upton, near Ham, at Lady Tankerville's, Walton on Thames (40 years old, and 8 ft. high), &c., which, we believe, have never received any protection whatever. The plants at Mile End are in a deep sandy loam, and they are remarkable for sending down their strong, thick, black roots in a perpendicular direction to a great depth. There is a plant at Farnham Castle, Surrey, almost as large as those in the Mile End Nursery; and there are plants at White Knights, and at various other places, which leave no doubt of the hardiness of this species. Indeed, it thrives far better in the open air than in pots; probably owing to its constitutional habit of throwing down its roots perpendicularly to a great depth. The only conservatory in which we have seen it in a prosperous state is that at Cashiobury, in Hertfordshire, where the glass roof is taken off during the greater part of the year. The plant not only flowers freely in the open air, but sometimes, as at Farnham Castle, it ripens seed. It is easily propagated by layers; and its general treatment, both in the nursery and in the pleasureground, as a half-hardy shrub, may be considered the same as that of the camellia; with this difference, that, being more of a bush than that plant, and loving the shade still more, it does not seem to answer so well against a wall. In the warmest parts of Devonshire, and the south of Ireland, it might be grown as an article of field culture for its leaves; and, if our prejudice in favour of the Chinese mode of preparation could be got over, and the leaves could be slightly fermented, and dried in the same manner as the best meadow hay is about London, being afterwards compressed into cakes to keep for use, the principal nations of Europe might easily grow their own tea, instead of importing it from China, if such a measure were found necessary, or thought desirable. The culture of the plant for commercial purposes has been tried at Rio Janeiro, at Algiers, and, we believe, in Australia. There is much less difficulty in growing the plants, than in preparing the leaves in the Chinese manner; and, as this is principally performed by manual labour, it can only be done profitably where the population is extremely numerous, and the means of living proportionably as cheap as in China or India. At some future time an imitation of this process will, probably, be effected by means of steam. The black tea (Thèa Bohèa) is a much more delicate plant, and is very seldom to be seen in England in the open air in a thriving state. It will neither thrive in pots, nor do well in a conservatory, unless it is quite close to the glass. The best situation for it seems to be a pit, where it may be covered with glass during winter, and exposed to the air during summer. In a conservative arboretum, it may be preserved by placing litter, fern, or spruce branches round the roots, and covering the top with a case of wickerwork, which, in climates colder than that of London, may be thatched. There are stools of it in the open ground in the Kensington Nursery, and in some others; but they are protected with mats in winter. *Other Species and Varieties of Thea. 3. T. COCHINCHINE'NSIS Lour., the Cochin-China Tea, is said to have narrower leaves than the other species, and to have 1-seeded fruit opening at the apex. It is a shrub, growing 8 ft. high, and the leaves are used by the inhabitants of Cochin-China medicinally, as a sudorific and refrigerant. It has not yet been introduced into Britain, and is, in all probability, only a variety of the green tea. 4. T. OLEO'SA Lour., the oily Tea, has lanceolate leaves, and peduncles 3-flowered, and auxillary. An oil is said to be obtained from the seed of this shrub, which has not yet been introduced into Britain. A species of tea grown in the province of Canton, with a pale-coloured leaf, which is occasionally mixed with Congou tea, is mentioned by Mr. Reeves (Royle's Illust., p. 111.); and this, with the numerous other sorts which are, doubtless, in cultivation in China and Japan, may be expected in Britain at some future period. Sect. III. Anticipated Ternströmiàceæ. We have already mentioned that there are, undoubtedly, many varieties of Camellia japónica in China and Japan which have not yet found their way to Britain; and there can be no doubt that the varieties of the green tea are still more numerous. In p. 173., it appears that Eurya acuminata, which belongs to this order, is likely to be hardy. This shrub, Mr. Royle observes, attains the height of about 8 ft. or 10 ft., and is common in the Himalaya at an elevation of 6500 ft. The leaves are thick, coriaceous, finely serrated, smooth, and the young ones hairy. The flowers, owing to the early fall of the leaves from the lower parts of the branches, appear to be lateral; but they actually rise out of the axils of the fallen leaves. The plant is a handsome evergreen bush, well meriting introduction. (Royle's Illust., p. 128.) CHAP. XX. OF THE HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER AURANTIA CEÆ. WE introduce this order for the sake of noticing two genera, the species of which may, with care, be cultivated against flued walls without the protection of glass. These genera are Citrus and Limònia. The species of the first are trees universally known and admired, natives of India; and those of the second Himalayan shrubs, grow. ing at considerable elevations in Nepal. Orange trees, when first introduced into England in 1595, were grown against a wall at Bedington, in Surrey, and flowered and fruited there for many years; till, as Evelyn informs us (see E. of Gard., ed. 1835, p. 967.), they were neglected. With a little care, and without the expense of glass, there can be no doubt that all the Citrus family might be grown against a hot wall in the climate of London, in as great, or greater perfection, than they jare now to be seen in those formal artificial contrivances, tubs and boxes kept under glass, and which are far more expensive than hollow walls to be heated by steam or smoke flues, and protected by thatched hurdles, or reed or straw mats. Those who have seen the walls covered with orange and lemon trees at Woodhall in West Lothian, at Coombe Royal in Devonshire, and at M. Fion's in Paris, will not wonder at our great anxiety to encou rage the culture of this plant in the conservative manner. We have also seen fine orange trees in the neigh 104 bourhood of Paris, grown as standards in the open air, but enclosed during winter with double glass cases, which are removed in May, and replaced in September; the outer case being covered with straw mats, for weeks together, in severe weather. When the wood of the orange tree is ri pened, and the sap is set to rest by withholding water, it may be kept in the dark, for two or three months together, without injury, provided the air be kept dry. The hardiest kind of orange appears to be the Seville, or bitter, orange. (fig. 104.) Mr. Spence, who passed some winters in Florence, states (Gard. Mag., vol. vii. p. 308.) that the bitter orange is by far the most hardy variety grown in Italy; and that, in the neighbourhood of Florence, where the cold is so great that skating is sometimes practised occasionally during four months of the year, and where, in the winter of 1829-50, the thermometer was repeatedly down to 260 and 24° Fahr. at 8 A. M., there are standards in the open air, in sheltered situations, but not planted near a wall, with stems from 4 in. to 6 in. in diameter, which pass the most severe winters with no other injury than having the points of the last year's shoots turned a little yellow. The bitter orange is in general use among the Italians, as a stock for grafting all the other sorts on; another proof that it is one of the hardiest and most vigorous-growing sorts. When a trial is to be made in England, we would recommend commencing with this variety; and protecting the ground by litter, and both sides of the wall by mats or boards, for several years, till the plants were fully established. The simple protection of straw mats, placed over the trees, might, probably, be found enough afterwards, at least in favourable situations. The walls should always be flued, or hollow, in order to afford the opportunity of lighting a fire occasionally. The north side of the wall might be kept warm by ivy; or, if it were an east and west wall, it might be clothed with half-hardy trees on both sides, and protected accordingly. As examples of different species of the genus Citrus which have attained large dimensions in the open air in England, we cite the following from different places in Devonshire. At Salcombe, near Kingsbridge, in the garden of the Rev. Mr. Henshaw, are two walls covered with fine healthy orange trees: one wall has a broad coping, and glass shapes for placing before the trees in severe winters; the other has reed hurdles for the same purpose, and, though this sometimes excludes the light for three months, it is considered a better protection than the glass. The kinds are, the common, Seville, and blood-red orange, and the citron, lemon, lime, and shaddock. At Dartmouth, in the garden of Mr. Strong, is a very large citron tree. At Luscombe, the seat of C. Hoare, Esq., there are some remarkable large trees of citrons, shaddocks, and limes, which grow so vigorously, that they make shoots of from 6 ft. to 7 ft. in length in one year. They were raised from cuttings on the spot; and, the third year after being planted out, they produced a number of fine fruit, some of the lemons measuring from 15 in. to 18 in. in circumference, and weighing 14 oz. (See Gard. Mag., vol. ii. p. 29.) At Kitley, the seat of E. P. Bastard, Esq., there is a remarkably hardy variety of the shaddock, raised on the spot, and known as the Kitley shaddock, which is much hardier than most other sorts of Citrus. At Coombe Royal, the seat of John Luscombe, Esq., are a number of lime, citron, orange, and lemon trees, of which a description will be found in the Gard. Mag., vol. x. p. 36. The trees are planted against a south wall, which is divided by buttresses, forming recesses in which the trees are trained in the manner of common fruit trees. Each recess is 124 ft. wide, and about the same in height; and is protected, during the winter, by a frame of wood, which is wholly removed in the summer, and partially by day, at other seasons; the trees only requiring to be guarded from severe frost. A more interesting sight cannot well be imagined by the lovers of horticulture, than that which is presented by these trees on a sunny day in winter, when the open frames furnish & display of the richest foliage, and of fruit rivalling the produce of foreign countries. The soil, which is seldom manured, is light and rich, on a slaty substratum, and seems admirably adapted to trees of the citron tribe. The situation in which they are grown is in a sheltered valley, protected from wind. It is necessary to add, that the lime is grown under glass in winter; but it is believed that the tree would thrive equally well under wood, and be more secure from frost and storms; a fine tree, in full bearing, having been destroyed, a few years since, by the accidental breaking of a pane or two of glass in winter. The fruit is produced abundantly by the citron, oranges, and lemons; by the lime more sparingly, from the tree being young, and in a vigorous growing state; and, when gathered at a proper period, the fruit is of a fine flavour, and full of juice. Citrons are every year ripened mea. suring from 15 in. to 18 in. in circumference; lemons, 11 in. by 9 in.; and oranges, 10 in. by 9 in.; weighing from 5 oz. to 9 oz. The leaves are generally 11 in. long, and 6 in. or 7 in. wide. (See Gard. Mag., vol. x. p. 36.) The genus Limònia (from lymoun, the Arabic name of the citron, Latinised) is not very well known; but it includes thirteen or fourteen species, all of which bear more or less affinity to the genus Citrus. The species likely to prove hardy or half-hardy are the following, L. Laureola Dec., a native of Nepal, with leaves like those of Daphne Lauréola, and white flowers, and which is found on the top of cold and lofty mountains, where it is, for some months in the year, buried under the snow. The leaves are highly fragraut; and are, like others of a similar kind, Mr. Royle informs us, employed in the religious ceremonies of the inhabitants of the hills. There can be no doubt of this species of Limònia being perfectly hardy. - L. citrifolia Willd. is a native of China, and has white flowers and red berries, with simple or trifoliate leaves. L. parviflora Bot. Mag., t. 2416., has impari-pinnate leaves, and white flowers. It is a native of China, and grows to the height of 6 ft. — L. ambigua Dec. is said to be cultivated in East Florida; but very little is known of this and the preceding species. L. austràlis is a native of New Holland, where it forms a tree 25 ft. high; and there is a plant of it at Kew, introduced in 1830. There are four other species of this genus in our stoves and green-houses; but L. Laurèola remains to be introduced by Mr. Royle, or some other patriotic individual. CHAP. XXI. OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER HYPERICA CEÆ, and tribe HYPERICE. DISTINCTIVE Characteristics. Thalamiflorous. (H. B.) Sepals 4 or 5, unequal, with an imbricate æstivation. Stamens, in nearly all, numerous, and in 3 or more parcels. Fruit, a capsule or berry of many valves and many cells; the edges of the valves curved inwards. Seeds attached to a placenta in the axis, or on the inner edge of the dissepiments. Leaves dotted; in most, opposite and entire. Flowers, in most, yellow. Sap yellow, resinous. (Lindley, Introd to N. S.) Description, &c. The hardy ligneous plants belonging to this order are all shrubs or undershrubs sub-evergreen or deciduous; with dotted leaves, smooth, oblong, or lanceolate; and yellow flowers. They are natives of Europe, North America, or Asia. Some few of Africa, but more of Australia. Medicinally, they are bitter and slightly astringent: the soft parts of many species contain a fragrant oil, and others secrete a yellow juice: from a Mexican species the gum Squitum Gulla of commerce is produced. In gardening, these shrubs must be considered more as flowering shrubs for dry borders, than as woody plants of permanent duration in the arboretum or shrubbery. There are, however, one or two exceptions. All the species throw up abundance of side suckers, and are readily propagated by division of the plant, or by cuttings; and some of them ripen seeds. They will grow in any soil, not too stiff, or too much charged with moisture. HYPERICUM L. Capsule membranous. Stamens numerous, disposed in 3 to 5 bundles at the base. ANDROSE MUM Chois. Capsule baccate, 1-celled. Calyx 5-parted. numerous, monadelphous at the base. GENUS I. Stamens HYPERICUM L. THE ST. JOHN'S WORT. Lin. Syst. Polyadélphia Polyándria. Identification. Lin. Gen., 392.; Juss., 255.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 543.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 601. Derivations. The name of Hypericum is as old as the time of Dioscorides; but its origin and mean. ing are uncertain. Some derive it from the Greek words huper, under, and eikōn, an image; and suppose it to signify that the upper part of the flower represents a figure. Others state that huper signifies through, and that the name alludes to the pellucid dots in the leaves, which form small lenses, through which, when held up to the light, images might be seen. Donnegan, in his Lexicon, conjectures the word Hypéricum to be taken from huper, for, in the place of, &c., and ereike, heath; from the plant bearing some resemblance to the heath. By others, the word is supposed to be composed from huper, through, on the other side, and eiko, to resemble; from the pellucid dots resembling holes or pores; and the French name of the plant, Mille Pertuís, a thousand pores, is evidently derived from the same source. The English name, St. John's Wort, and the German one, Johannis Kraut, are taken from the country people formerly, both in England and Germany, being in the habit of gathering this plant on St. John's day, to use it to protect themselves from evil spirits. This plant, with some others, was employed to make what was called John's fire, which was supposed to be a security, for those who kindled it, against witchcraft and all attacks of demons. For this reason, also, the Hypéricum received the name of Fuga Dæmonum. Gen. Char. &c. Capsules membranous. Stamens numerous, free or joined at the bases into 3 or 5 bundles. Petals 5. Sepals 5, more or less connected at the base, unequal, rarely equal. Styles 3 to 5, rarely connate in one, manent. Capsule 1- or many-celled, many-seeded, 3-5-valved. Integument of seed double. Albumen none. Embryo with the radicle situated at the umbilicus, and with semicylindrical cotyledons. (Don's Mill., i. p. 601.)-Low sub-evergreen shrubs; with yellow flowers, and oppositely placed sessile or subsessile leaves, usually full of pellucid dots on their disks, and some dark ones on their edges, lodging an essential oil. They are chiefly natives of Europe, and vary in height from 1 ft. to 5 ft. They are all considered medicinal, being powerfully astringent, and were formerly in great request by herbalists and other empirical practitioners. Gerard gives a receipt for making a balsam of them in his Herbal; which, he says, is a most pretious remedie for deep wounds, and those that are thorow the body; for the sinues that are prickt, or any wound made with a venomed weapon." (Johnson's Gerard, p. 541.) |