autumn, singly, in a pot of five or six inches diameter, filled with light earth. If in a warm situation, as near a wall facing the south or south-east, they will bear an ordinary winter abroad: in June they will begin to flower, and in July are fit for gathering. There are single and double varieties; and, contrary to the habit of most double flowers, these may generally be continued from seed. The flowers are commonly white or purple.

The other kinds are chiefly shrubby, and propagated by cuttings, planted in any of the summer months in a pot of light earth. These kinds must be sheltered from frost; but, if not allowed fresh air in mild weather, will grow up weakly, and often bear no flowers. They should be placed near a window, open in mild weather. In dry summer weather the Xeranthemums will require frequent watering, but must be sparingly watered in winter.

These flowers, if gathered in their beauty, will preserve it many years, and make a showy figure with other dried flowers, as Amaranths, Honesty, Gnaphaliums, &c. in the winter. They also make pretty ornaments for a lady's hair: their colours are white, purple, yellow, or red.

The Xeranthemum has of late been highly improved by culture, and many persons are very curious in them.

LILIACEÆ.

YUCCA.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Frequently called Adam's-needle.-French, yuca; youc.

The Superb Yucca is from North America; it was first cultivated in Europe by Gerarde, to whom it was brought from the West Indies by the servant of an apothecary.

Gerarde kept the plant till his death; Parkinson had it from the widow, and with him it perished.

The Yucca is nearly allied to the Aloe, and, like that, blows very rarely: the flowers of this species are bellshaped, and hang downward; they are white within, but on the outside each petal has a stripe of purple; they appear in August and September.

The Aloe-leaved Yucca is a native of South America: it produces a greater abundance of flowers than the former kind; white on the inside, purple without.

The Drooping-leaved Yucca has white flowers, but its scent is not agreeable.

The Thready Yucca, so called from long threads which hang from the sides of the leaves, is a native of North America. The flower-stem of this plant grows to the height of five or six feet, and nearly the whole of it is covered with large white flowers, sitting close. But, like the other kinds, this plant flowers but seldom.

It is said that, about the middle of the seventeenth century, Mr. Walker possessed abundance of these plants in his suburban garden in the village of St. James. "But," says Mr. Morison, who mentions the circumstance, "I never saw it flower there."

These plants are to be treated as hardy Aloes.

ZINNIA.

CORYMBIFERE.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.

So named by Linnæus, in honour of J. G. Zinn, pupil of Haller, and professor of botany at Gottingen after him.

THE Zinnias are annual plants, bearing handsome flowers: they are usually raised in a hot-bed; but a warm inhabited room will generally bring them forward as well.

The Yellow Zinnia is the most tender; and this will produce but few flowers, unless it is stinted in its growth while young, by confining the roots in a small pot. It is a Peruvian.

The Red Zinnia is a native of North America; when in full beauty the flower is of a red-purple, powdered with gold, like one of the species of the Amaryllis; it afterwards becomes more dull, red and yellow, and green underneath. There is a variety with yellow flowers.

The Whorl-flowered and the Purple Zinnias are from Mexico: the first has double red flowers; the latter handsome flowers, first red, but changing to a deep violet. These, and the Slender-flowered, which is a native of South America, with orange-coloured flowers, may be gradually accustomed to the open air about the end of May: in July they will begin to blow, and continue in bloom till the approach of frost.

The seeds should be sown in March, singly ;-or several together, and towards the end of May transplanted into separate pots, of ten or twelve inches diameter. The earth must be kept moderately moist; but water must be given in sparing portions in winter, rather in sips than draughts,

ZYGOPHYLLEE.

ZYGOPHYLLUM.

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Often called Bean-caper.-French, fabagelle.

THE Scarlet-flowered Bean-caper is a native of Africa and Siberia; the White, of Egypt; the Four-leaved, and Sessile-leaved, from the Cape, have yellow flowers. They are succulent plants, and must be sheltered from surrounding damps, and in the winter from the cold.

391

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

THE observations necessary to make here will be very few, and will only comprise such information as a person should have in memory, who attempts to rear plants in

any way.

SOWING.

Where nothing is said to the contrary, it may be taken as a general rule to sow seeds in proportion to their size, from a quarter of an inch to an inch deep. The Convolvulus, and such sized seeds in general, may be sown a quarter of an inch deep; the Lupine, &c., half an inch; the Scarlet-bean, &c., an inch deep. A few pebbles should be put at the bottom of the pot, to drain off superfluous moisture: the soil will, of course, vary according to the plant but whatever soil the plant may require, and many require a stony one, the earth should be light and free from stones above the seeds. After sowing, a little water should be given to settle the earth about the seeds. It is not advisable for individuals to save their seeds from home-reared plants: besides that they thrive better in a change of soil, they will often be stronger from plants in the open ground.

PLANTING.

To see if a plant wants fresh potting, turn it carefully out of the pot, with the earth attached to it, and examine

the roots. If they are matted about the sides and bottom of the ball, the plant evidently requires fresh potting. Then carefully reduce the ball of earth to about a third of its original bulk; single out the matted roots, and trim away all that are mouldy and decayed. Probably the same pot may then be large enough; but, if it requires a larger, it should be about two inches broader for a middle-sized plant; three or four for a large plant. If the roots are not mätted, but the pots are filled with the fibres, keep the ball entire, and carefully plant it in a larger pot. At the top of a large pot, an inch; of a small pot, half an inch, should be left for the reception of water, without danger of overflow. A little gravel should always be at the bottom.

A plant newly potted must never be exposed to a strong sun: it should be watered and placed in the shade immediately, and there remain till it is rooted; which may be known by its shooting above.

Plants are frequently destroyed by replanting, merely from the careless manner in which it is done. Where the roots spread, plenty of room should be left open, a little hillock made in the centre of the pot, and the plant being placed thereon, the roots should be distributed around it in a regular manner, observing that they are not twisted or turned up at the ends. The earth should be filled in, a little at a time, and the pot gently shaken, to settle the earth to the roots all the way down. When filled, it

should be pressed down with the hand.

It is very com

mon to fill in the earth at once, and press it hard down; which not only wounds the tender fibres, but often leaves a hollow space towards the bottom of the roots, and deprives them of their proper nourishment. But the thing most necessary to be observed is, that the roots be allowed their natural course.