75 



leatlcls oblong, pointed, whilc-nicnihranaceous, with a red nerve, and 

 a point of the same colour. 



It varies of a shining red colour,— with a red slalk with j)alc 

 leaves, — with a green stalk with variegated leaves, &c. As first cul- 

 tivated in this climate, according lo professor JMartjn, the stem vtas 

 wholly red and smooth; the petioles, iii;s, and nerves of the leaves 

 underneath purple; the spikes pur[)le, much spreading, and a little 

 nodding. They were of course very l>eaulif;d, and made a gay ap- 

 pearance for the two first years: but afterwards the seeds degene- 

 rated, and the plants had little beauty; which is the same with some 

 other species of this genus. It is a native of the East Indies. 



In the seventh species, the stem is erect, a foot and a half or two 

 feet in height, smooth, except under the leaves, where it is a little 

 scabrous, reddish, roundish, streaked, and grooved: the leaves are 

 red and green, acute, with elevated veins: the petioles arc channel- 

 led, and of a reddish colour: the racemes arc naked, red, lateral, 

 short, and placed about the stem without order: the calyxes are five- 

 leaved: the leaflets oblong, acute, membranaceous, and red. 



It varies with leaves more or less red, — with very red and paler 

 racemes, with a green and red, — wilh a rough and smooth stalk. It 

 flowers from July to September. i\nd it is a native of Viroinia. 



Culture. — 'i"he propagation in most of these sj)ecics is not eflTc^cted 

 without considerable trouble, as they require the aid of artificial heat, 

 in order to bring them forward in the greatest perfection. 'I'herc are 

 a few, however, that may be raised in the oi)en ground without the 

 assistance of heat applied in the above manner. 



The two first, as being the most lender, demand much o^reater 

 attention and more artificial heat in producing tb.eu), than those of 

 tlie third, fourth, and filth kinds. And the -sixth and seventh species 

 are capable of being raised with still less heat than those of the above 

 sorts, though not in the fullest jxrfeclion without a slight degree 

 of it. 



Ill all the different species the business is accomplished by sow- 

 ing the seeds annually in the early spring months, as about the latter 

 end of March or beginning of April, on beds of good earth, either 



