313 FLORA. HISTORIC.*.. 



GARDEN ROCKET, or DAME'S VIOLET. 

 Hesperis Matronalis. 



This beautiful plant was originally brought from 

 Italy, and its spikes of double corollas are ranked 

 amongst the most ornamental of our garden flowers, 

 where it shines conspicuously by day in its white 

 and purple costume, whilst its fragrance is reserved 

 for vesper hours, to rival the gayest of Flora's gifts, 

 like Philomel, 



Elate to make her night excel their day. 



This plant will only flourish in a pure air, and 

 where the soil is both light and fresh, that is, rather 

 rich, but not dunged. It is a flower much cul- 

 tivated on the French coast, and may be seen in 

 great perfection in most gardens between Calais and 

 Abbeville ; but it will not endure the atmosphere 

 of either Paris or London. 



Of all the directions we have consulted as to its 

 propagation, that of Dr. Robertson seems to answer 

 the best for this country. He observes, iC The 

 Double Rocket is a beautiful plant, rather scarce in 

 this part of the country, owing chiefly, I suppose, to 

 florists not being acquainted with a successful way 

 of increasing it. I had a few plants of Rockets under 

 my care, and I did them all justice, as I thought, 



