in French, giroflée de Mahon: it is an annual plant, too well known to need description. The seeds of this may be sown at two or three several times, to obtain a longer succession of flowers; in autumn, and in March, April, or May. It does not rise above six inches high; but, as it branches, three or four seeds will be enough for a middlesized pot.

The kind commonly called the Queen's Stock-gilliflower -in French, giroflée des jardins [Garden Stock]-varies in colour from a pale to a deep red, and is sometimes variegated; but the bright red is most esteemed. As this branches very much, one seed only must be sown in a pot: this should be done in May; water should be given every evening; and, during the heat of the day, the pots should be shaded, to prevent the earth from drying too fast. They must be protected from frost during the winter, either by removing them into the house, or covering them with oak-leaves. The poorer the soil in which they are planted the better they will bear the cold. The following May they will flower, which they often continue to do all the summer, and probably many of the flowers will come out double. In autumn, after they have blown, they usually perish; but when they are in a very poor soil, or are growing among rubbish, they will often last two or three years.

The Brompton-in French, giroflée à tige-and the White Stock, are varieties of this kind; the latter will sometimes live three or four years. This species is a native of the coast of Spain, Greece, Italy, Candia, and the isles adjacent.

The Stock-gilliflower has been long established in the English gardens, and is indeed a native of the cliffs by the sea-side. The old English name of Gilliflower, which is now almost lost in the prefix, Stock, is corrupted from the French giroflier. Chaucer writes it Gylofre; but, by

A A

associating it with the nutmeg and other spices, appears to mean the Clove-tree, which is, in fact, the proper signification of that word.

Turner calls it Gelover and Gelyfloure; Gerarde and Parkinson, Gilloflower. Thus, having wandered from its original orthography, it was corrupted into July-flower. Pinks and Carnations have also the title of Gilliflower from smelling like the clove, for which the French name is girofle. For distinction, therefore, they were called Clovegilliflowers, and these Stock-gilliflowers. Gerarde adds the names Castle-gilliflower, and Guernsey-violet.

The Annual, or Ten-weeks' Stock-French, le quarantain; le violet d'été [summer violet]: Italian, leucoio estivo [summer stock]-grows about two feet high: there are many varieties, white, red, purple, and striped; and double and single varieties of each of these colours. It grows naturally on the coast in the South of Europe. By means of a hot-bed they may be raised earlier, but without that help the best season for sowing them is in March and April, and indeed in May also: if they are taken in when the weather becomes severe, they will continue to flower; those planted in May will last to the very end of winter, in the house. A middle-sized pot will contain three or four.

The Broad-leaved Shrubby-stock is a native of the island of Madeira; it blossoms from March to May: when the flowers first open, they are white, sometimes inclining to yellow; in a few days they become purple; hence this species has been termed mutabilis, or changeable. This is of quick growth, and may be increased by cuttings, taken as soon as the plant has done flowering: they should be housed in the winter.

Some persons increase the Queen's-stock in the same manner, planting the cuttings in March or April in pots three or four inches wide; in the middle of May they re

move them into pots of five or six inches diameter, and in July or August into full-sized ones, that is, eight or ten inches; but though these cuttings will generally root, they do not make such handsome plants as those raised from seed: it is not, therefore, worth while to practise this method unless to preserve some fine double flowers. These flowers love the sun; but care must be taken to supply in the evening the moisture which has been exhausted during the day. It will be observed, too, as an invariable rule, always to place a plant in the shade when newly potted, and to let it remain there till rooted.

There are other species of Stock, but these are the most desirable. There is a Cheiranthus, called the C. Quadrangulus, a native of Siberia, which was introduced into the Paris garden by Jean Jacques Rousseau. The flowers are sulphur-coloured and sweet. It is propagated by seeds, and thrives in the open air, but does not last many years.

STRAMONIUM.

DATURA.

SOLANEE.

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Called also Thorn-apple.-French, stramonie; la pomme epineuse; herbe aux sorciers; herbe des magiciens [both signifying conjurors'wort]; endormie [sleeper]; herbe du diable [devil's-wort]; pomme du diable [devil's-apple]; herbe a la taupe [mole-wort]; noix metelle [metel-nut] which last properly belongs to the datura metel.-Italian, datura; pomo spinoso [thorny-apple]; stramonio; noce metella.

SOME few of the Stramoniums require the protection of a stove: the other kinds are usually raised in a hot-bed. The Purple Stramonium is the handsomest: the flowers are purple on the outside, and of a satiny white within;

and blow in July. The double-flowered varieties are the most esteemed.

ATRIPLICEE.

STRAWBERRY-BLITE.

BLITUM.

MONANDRIA DIGYNIA.

Blitum is derived from the Greek, and signifies, fit only to be thrown away: it is also called Strawberry Spinach, and Berry-bearing Orach. French, bléte; arroche.

THE name of these plants may not appear very inviting; but it is to be understood with some limitations: they bear fruit resembling the Strawberry in appearance, and all the name is intended to imply is, that the fruit is unfit to eat. Having thus explained matters, I will proceed to introduce the plants themselves, which, perhaps, may make a more favourable impression than if more expectation had been excited.

There are three or four species of the Strawberry-blite, all annuals, and easily raised from seed. They may be sown in March or April, three or four seeds in a pot of eight or nine inches diameter, of the Swedish kind; but only one, of the others. In five or six weeks the plants will come up, and in July will begin to show their berries. They should always be kept moderately moist, and must stand in the open air. As the flower-stems advance in height, they will require sticks to support them, or the weight of the berries will bear them down.

The Blitum Capitatum, or Berry-headed Strawberryblite, bears the largest berries.

SUN-FLOWER.

HELIANTHUS.

CISTEE.

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTANEA.

French, l'hélianthe; fleur du soleil; soleil [the sun]; tournesol [sun-turner]; couronne du soleil [crown of the sun]; herbe du soleil [sun-wort].-Italian, girasole; fior del sol; corona del sole; girasole Indiano [Indian sun-turner]; girasole Peruano.

THE Sun-flower can scarcely be introduced here with propriety, being in general so large, even the annual kinds, as to be ill-adapted for pots. The Annual Sun-flower rises to the height of twelve or fourteen feet, and the flower sometimes exceeds a foot in diameter. It is not called Sun-flower, as some have supposed from turning to the sun, but from the resemblance of the full-blown flower to the sun itself: Gerarde remarks, that he has seen four of these flowers on the same stem, pointing to the four cardinal points. This flower is a native of Mexico and Peru, and looks as if it grew from their own gold. It flowers from June to October.

The Dwarf Annual kind, which grows from eighteen inches to three feet in height, is a little more within compass.

The Perennial Sun-flower is much esteemed for bouquets; the flowers are about eight or ten inches in diameter: there is a constant succession from July to November. It is a native of Virginia.

The Dark-red Sun-flower, and the Narrow-leaved, are of a more moderate height; the first, two or three feet, the latter, a foot and a half. Both are natives of Virginia, flowering in September and October.

The Sun-flowers are hardy plants; the perennial kinds are increased by parting the roots into small heads: this