PERSIC ARIA. 2G5 



be but thinly covered with earth. The plants raised 

 from seed sown in the spring seldom grow so strong, 

 or produce so fine flowers. 



AVhcn the plants, which are raised from the 

 autumn sowing, are transplanted in the spring into 

 a rich moist soil, they frequently grow to the 

 height of eight or ten feet, displaying their cluster- 

 ing branches of brilliant carmine flower-buds to 

 great advantage from July to the end of autumn. 

 To assist the Persicaria in attaining: this i^reat 

 height, all the lower branches should be regularly 

 pruned off in the growing season, which gives 

 strength to those of the upper part of the plant, 

 and causes it to take a most eleo^ant and o-raceful 

 shape, the delicate lightness of which contrasts 

 most agreeably with the stiff and heavy Sun-flower. 

 The Persicaria, from its height and size, is only 

 calculated for the largest parterre, or to intermix in 

 the shrubbery. 



Mr. Martyn enumerates thirty-six species of the 

 Polygonum, ten of which appear in " British 

 Botany" as native plants, one of which, Fckjo- 

 jjyrum, however, it is doubtful whether it be even 

 an European plant; but its cultivation under the 

 name of Buck-wheat, is of great antiquity in 

 England, as well as most European countries. 



The generic name of these plants is derived 

 from the Greek, IloXuyojov, from zjoXv, many, and 



VOL. II. N 



