GLEANINGS FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS. 11 



As the nature of the growth of (he American Aloe is here ex* 

 plained by the unfolding of its leaves, until the flower-stem ap T 

 pears, an inquiry into the general number of leaves, which each 

 lull-grown Aloe has, will at once inform us of the age of such 

 plant, or at least what age it ought to be of, if it has been pro- 

 perly cultivated, and how long it will be before it flowers, by the 

 help of this further remark : how many leaves does an Aloe gene? 

 rally produce each year ? 



On some of the leaves of the Aloes at Hampton Court, the dates 

 of years were scratched, which appeared to have remained legible 

 for a considerable time ; as this practice may also have been made 

 in other places, on inquiry further into this matter, it will lead us 

 to this proof, how many leaves have been produced in such a 

 number of years, and then, if by a superior method of cultivation, 

 we can make them unfold two or three leaves each year, instead 

 of one, we might have this magnificent plant ornament our gar- 

 dens with its flowers much more frequently than at present. — - 

 Country Gentleman's Companion. 



ARTICLE V. — Gardening Gleanings, selected from ra- 

 rious Authors. No. II. By Snowdrop. 



ON DISEASED TULIPS AND THEIR CURE, &C. 



" Although the roots of Tulips are for the most part hardy and 

 of long continuance, yet sometimes some of the best kinds will be 

 infected with diseases, notwithstanding our greatest diligence and 

 care in their preservation, which happeneth to the roots of some, 

 whilst out of ground, and to others after they are set. For the 

 first, in observing the root of any good flower, if it appear rivelled 

 or crumpled on the outside, and feel soft and spungy, it is a mani- 

 fest sign of a consumption, which to prevent, wrap it up in wool 

 dipped in salad oil, and place it where it may receive some little, 

 warmth from the lire; and about the end of August, set it in the 

 ground, putting some soot made by a woodfire, mixed with sand, 

 about it, covering the place with a pot, the bottom tinned upward, 

 to keep it from wet, until the fibres are come forth, which will be 

 by the end of September or not at all. With such roots thus 

 haudlcd it often happeneth, that though some of the outer folds 



