151 



being freely admitted when the weather is tnikl and suitable. In this 

 way some plants of the hardy sorts will ap[)car about the beginning 

 of the I'ollowing year, and of all the kinds in the spring. During the 

 beginning of summer, when the weather is hot and dry, slight water- 

 ings should be given occasionally; but when their leaves begin to 

 decline in llie latter end, they should be removed to an eastern as- 

 pect, wiih only the morning sun, and, as their roots arc then in an 

 inactive slate, have iililc or no water. 'J'hey should !)e kept free 

 from weeds in the auluum, and have some fresh mould applied over 

 the surfaces of the pots or tubs in which they grow, protecting them 

 again in the winter as before, continuing the saiuc management as 

 in the j)receding year, till the decline of the leaves in the hitter part 

 of the summer, when they sh.ould be carefully taken up, and the 

 more hardy sorts planted out in the situations where they are to re- 

 main, as those of a warm, dry border; and the tender kinds removed 

 into pots, to have protection from frosts in winter. 



As the Persian sort is the most impatient of cold and moisture, 

 it should constantly be kept in pots fdled with light sandy earth, or 

 a compost of loam and lime-rubbish, and be placed in such situa- 

 tions in the frame or green-house as to have as nmch tree air as 

 possible in mild weather in winter. Some of the sorts Avill generally 

 begin to flower in the course of one or two years after being thus 

 planted out; the first kind often about Christmas, which is succeeded 

 by those of the Persian sort. 



The plants in tlie borders should have the protection of mats or 

 other contrivances, in severe winters, as by such means they produce 

 a greater abundance of flowers, and these more fair and beautiful. 



The varieties of (he different sorts are best preserved and conti- 

 nued by planting pieces of the divided roots, immediately after they 

 have been separated in the summer season, in pots, tubs, or other 

 {)laces, as above: but in this mode they do not increase in an expe- 

 ditious manner. 



These plants are very ornamental, though of small growth, in 

 their variegated large foliage, as well as ihrir elegant flowrrs, which 

 in some of the sorts are fragrant, as those of the spring kinds. 



