124 PENTANDRIA. 



is already raised in the vicinity of most of the large town? ^r 

 the same purpose, and is rapidly coming into general ^se 

 When picked green and thrown into vinegar, with spices, the 

 Tomato makes excellent pickles. The seeds should be 

 planted in a hot bed, in April, and transplanted into the garden 

 in May. 



The egg-plant, (Solatium melongena,) is a tender, annual, 

 herbaceous plant, about two feet high, and branched. The 

 leaves are heart ovate and sinuate, and the stem prickly. 

 The fruit is egg-shaped, with the small end upward ; of a beau- 

 tiful glossy purple, and from the size of a fist to that of a 

 child's head. Inside it is fleshy, with sinuses containing 

 small flat seeds. This fruit, when cut in slices and fried in 

 butter, or when stuffed and stewed in a certain manner, is a 

 great delicacy. It is raised in the same manner as the 

 Tomato, and is rapidly going into use in this country. It 

 may be made an article of economy, as well as a luxury, for 

 there are few plants which bear a greater weight of fruit 

 according to their size. 



GENUS Convolvulus. Bind-weed. Convolvulus is from 

 the Latin convolvere, to entwine, because most of the genus 

 are running vines. The Sweet Potato, (Convolvulus batatus,) 

 belongs here. Its vines run six or eight feet and cover the 

 ground. Its leaves are heart-shaped, sinuate, and angular. 

 This is a native of the East and West Indies, and of China. 

 From these countries it has spread into all the tropical cli- 

 mates, which best suit its nature. It will however grow as 

 high as latitude 42, though not in much perfection. 



Scammony, a gum resin, used in medicine, is the inspis- 

 sated juice of the root of one species of this genus, (Co?ivol- 

 vulus scammonia.) 



GENUS Capsicum. Red pepper. This plant is too well 

 known to require description. There are many kinds raised 

 in our gardens, as the common, globular-fruited, heart-fruited, 

 cherry -pepper, &c. These are all different species, as may 

 be seen by the different shapes and sizes of their fruits. Some 

 of these came originally from India, some from the West 

 Indies, and others from China. The seeds and capsules of 

 this tribe being dried and pulverized, form the well ki.own, 

 hot, biting condiment, sold under the name of Cayenne Pepper. 



To what genus does the sweet potato belong 1 How did lobelia obtain 

 its name 1 



