61 



greatest advantage and effect, when constantly kept in the stove in 

 a similar degree of temperature with that of the above species. 



The sixth kind, or Belladonna Lily, is more hardy. It has been 

 cultivated, according to the editor of Miller's Dictionary, with great 

 success in the following manner: A border was prepared close to a 

 wall which had a south-west aspect, about six feet in width, in this 

 manner. All the earth to the depth of three feet was removed, and 

 some very rotten dung put in the bottom six inches thick, upon 

 which light garden mould was applied, about twenty inches in depth. 

 After making this level, the roots were placed at six inches distance 

 every way, being then covered over with light sandy earth, to the 

 height of the border; by which means the upper parts of the roots 

 are five or six inches buried. In the winter season the border was 

 covered all over with rotten tanner's bark, to the depth of three 

 inches, in order to prevent the frost from penetrating the ground. 

 And when it proved very severe, some mats or straw were laid over 

 the leaves to protect the plants from being destroyed. In this ma_ 

 nagement the roots have greatly increased, and the plants have con- 

 stantly flowered every year; some of them having put out two or 

 three stems which grew near three feet in height, producing many 

 flowers in each umbel, which made a fine appearance during the 

 month of October. It is added, that the green leaves come up soon 

 after, and abide all the winter and spring until June, at which time 

 they decay. Soon after this period the roots should therefore be 

 transplanted; for, if they are suffered to stand till July, they will 

 have sent forth new root-fibres, in Avhich stale it would greatly in- 

 jure the roots if they were disturbed. If some of the roots be planted 

 in a warm border close to a south wall, and in a dry soil, they mostly 

 thrive well, especially if they be covered in severe weather; and 

 these roots generally flower much stronger than those which, are kept 

 in pots, and multiply faster than under other circumstances. 



The seventh species is more tender than the above, as it rarely 

 puts forth offsets from the roots. But as it produces ripe seeds in 

 sufficient quantity, it may be propagated in that way without much 

 difficulty. These should be sown in pots of good mould in the spring 



