66 FLORA HISTORICA. 



cultivators called Picotte, many of which kind 

 are very beautiful, and being hardier than the 

 other sorts, are in considerable request. The 

 colours are principally yellow, and white spotted ; 

 their properties are the same as the other kinds, 

 except that the edges of the petals are serrated 

 or jagged, and the colour is disposed in spots 

 where the others are striped." 



The propagation of these plants is by layers 

 and pipings for continuing approved sorts, and 

 by seed for procuring new varieties. 



The soil which Maddock recommends is formed 

 into a compost, by adding *' one-half rotten horse- 

 dung, one year old, or that has been used as a 

 hot-bed for cucumbers, melons, ^-c, one-third 

 fresh sound loamy earth, one-sixth coarse sea or 

 river sand. These ingredients are to be mixed 

 together in autumn, laid in a heap about two 

 feet thick, in an open exposure, and turned three 

 or four times during winter ; or, otherwise, the 

 dung alone, after being used as a hot-bed, may 

 be thrown together in a heap, in a conical form, 

 in order to rot more perfectly ; and, as its surface 

 freezes in winter, it should be pared off, and laid 

 on one side, till the whole mass has been tho- 

 roughly frozen throughout : this may be repeated 

 as often as the season permits, and it will be 

 completely fit for use the following spring. The 



