PERSICARIA. 287 



is the proper time of sowing this seed, and that 

 it should be but thinly covered with earth. The 

 plants raised from seed sown in the spring sel- 

 dom grow so strong, or produce so fine flowers. 



When 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 

 clustering branches of brilliant carmine flower- 

 buds to great advantage from July to the end of 

 autumn. To assist the Persicaria in attaining 

 tliis great 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 elegant 

 and graceful 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, Fago- 

 pi/rum, however, it is doubtful whether it be 

 even an European plant; but its cultivation, 

 under the name of Buck-wheat, is of great anti- 

 quity in England as well as most of the European 

 countries. 



