LUPIN. 



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commonly with Viola pedata, or Bird's-foot Violet, all of which 

 are in bloom about the first of June. It is very difficult, or 

 even impossible, to transplant, with success, this fine perennial. 

 The only sure way to propagate it is by seed, which should be 

 gathered before it is entirely ripe, as it is scattered, as soon as 

 mature, by the sudden bursting of the pod, by which the seed 

 is thrown to a considerable distance. Nor will it succeed, like 

 the last described species, on rich ground ; but whenever the 

 seeds are to be sown, the soil should, in the first place, be 

 removed, or a greater part of it, from a circle whose diameter 

 is three or four feet, and the hole be filled up with a poor, 

 gravelly or sandy soil, and the seed sown in the centre. 



The flowers are found, in the wild state, of various colors 

 and shades, from pure white (which is rare) through all the 

 shades of light to dark-blue, inclining to purple ; the margin of 

 the flowers is frequently copper color, sometimes inclining to 

 red. One variety has flowers of a dull pink. Stem erect, 

 hairy. The digitate leaves are composed of about eight or ten 

 leaflets, which are lanceolate, wedge-shaped, arranged like rays 

 around the end of the petiole ; hairy and pale underneath. 



Many beautiful Lupins have, within a few years, been added 

 to the list of herbaceous plants, chiefly through the exertions 

 of Mr. Douglas, in his excursions in North and South America, 

 most of which were found on the North-west coast, from Cali- 

 fornia to the Columbia river, which part of the world seems to 

 be the central position, or head quarters, of this genus of plants, 

 more being found here than in all the world besides. 



Lupinus polypkyllus, Many-leaved Lupin, is a splendid 

 plant, from the north-west coast of North America. The fol- 

 lowing account, which I gave of it fifteen years ago, is as 

 good as new : > 



" I received seed of this fine Lupin, a few years since, only 

 one of which vegetated. It produced radical leaves, only, the 

 first year, which were multifoliated, and borne on long petioles. 

 The second year, it was transplanted, with much care, into rich 

 soil, having been exposed, through the winter, to all the rigors 

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