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high, the lower part closely garnished on every side with leaves, 

 which are three inches long and half an inch broad, of a gray colour, 

 and twisted obliquely: the flowers are in a loose spike at the top, 

 forming a pyramid; shorter than the other sorts, spreading wider at 

 the brim, and not bent down; of a dark purple colour; appearing 

 in May. They seldom produce seeds in this climate. 



There is a variety which has a much shorter stem and smaller 

 leaves ; the stem branches out at the top into several small pedun- 

 cles, each sustaining one dark-coloured flower. It is termed Dwarf 

 Persian Lily. 



Culture. The common mode of propagation in all these plants 

 is by off-sets from the sides of their roots, separated every second or 

 third year; the proper time for which is when their flower-stalks de- 

 cay, taking the whole root up entirely, and separating them into 

 distinct roots, then planting the smaller off-sets by themselves in 

 nursery-beds, to remain a year or two, to acquire a flowering state ; 

 and the larger roots, where they are to remain for flowering. 



They are likewise capable of being propagated by seed; but this 

 is principally practised for new varieties; and the process is tedious; 

 the Fritillary and Persian Lily being three years, and the Crown Im- 

 perial sometimes six or seven, before they flower in perfection. The 

 seeds may be sown in the beginning of autumn, in large wide pots, 

 or in boxes of similar width, filled with light mellow earth, each sort 

 separate, covering them evenly with fine earth half an inch deep, 

 placing the pots, &c. to have only the morning sun all summer, or 

 during hot dry weather, and in the full sun in winter and spring: the 

 plants will appear in the spring, which, after the first or second year's 

 growth, when the leaves decay in summer, may be taken up, and the 

 whole planted immediately in nursery-beds, in shallow drills four 

 inches asunder, to remain till they flower. 



They are all hardy, and highly ornamental plants for the borders, 

 clumps, and other parts; the fourth sort being set backwards, the 

 third in the middle, and the others forwards. 



