DIRECTIONS FOR FLOWERING THE ALOE VARIEGATA. 55 



is sometimes observed in young Fruit-trees, that they blossom 

 themselves to death; and some I have known to grow themselves 

 to death ; for the freer the sap is in expending itself in Branch 

 and Blossom, the more tender is the root, which becomes a prey 

 to the worm and canker, as doth the Branch to the severe Air. 

 The way to prevent which, is prescribed in the last mentioned 

 experiment." 



" To know good Seeds. If you doubt the goodness of your 

 Seeds, take some of them and put them in fair water, and set them 

 in a gentle heat twenty-four hours, and if they are good the}' will 

 sprout, else not. Also you may wash your Seeds in water, and 

 the dead and light will swim, and the good and heavy will sink; 

 but they must be all thoroughly immerged, else you may be de- 

 ceived." 



" To defend Plants from Frost. Secure the root as well as you can 

 from the Frost; for if you defend that, the Branch seldom suffers, 

 but if the root be not secured, although the Branch be never so 

 well defended it will perish. Therefore, earth up the roots as well 

 as you can, and place any ordinary defence about the sides of the 

 plant, and no frost will hurt it, (unless it be your tender plants 

 that are for the conservatory.) Thus may Gilly flowers, If "all 

 flower*, Slock Gillyflowers, Sec. be preserved." 



" Set tender plants dry. Some plants, if the roots stand dry 

 the Frost rarely hurts them; which if moist, they are usually 

 destroyed, as Rosemary, Sage, Wall flowers, fyc. Either of these 

 will grow on a wall, and endure the severest colds, but if they 

 stand in a moist ground, although the Branches be never so well 

 defended, they are apt to be destroyed with great Frost. The cause 

 is that water or moisture stagnating about any plant, and a Frost 

 following, is apt to mortilic it, when a Frost shall scarcely injure 

 a dry plant. It is the same with young and tender Fruits, a frosty 

 night alter a wet day destroys more Fruits, than ten dry Frosts 

 • :m do." Snowdrop. 



ARTICLE IV.— I) i rections for Flower ituj the Aloe 

 varietjata. By J. W. D. 



1,1 ,1 " month "t Jane, turn your plant out in the open air in R 



