Historic Gardens of Virginia 



"Bulbous roots to get when in my power: 



Meadow Saffron (see Colchium) a bulbous root about 

 the size of a Tulip, flowers in Autumn, and the leaves 

 continue green all the winter; called by the common 

 people, Naked Ladies. Great varieties may be ob- 

 tained from seed." 



"Purple cupped Statices or Thrift; dried,^ it retains its 

 colour, which renders it ornamental for a Mantelpiece 

 in winter. A Biennial, yet often increased by parting its 

 roots, but more advantageously from Seeds." 



Of the Iris she lists at least nine varieties: "Bulbous Flag Iris, 

 red flower; Dwarf Flag; Large Flag, or Flower de Luce; Ever- 

 green Purple; Common Blue; Persian; Florentine White, and 

 Corn Flag." 



Amongst the Wild Flowers she mentions eight varieties of 

 "Solomon's Seal, or Convollaria Polygonatum." Also, "Clay- 

 tonia, little narrow leafed Black rooted flower from the foot of the 

 garden"; "Ixia Bermudiana, with an Iris Leaf, perhaps the Black- 

 berry Lily in the garden"; "Hibiscus, American Retmic, what was 

 sent me by the name of Holy Oak, 4th sort. 6th sort, Indian 

 Retmic, I expect is the flower Helen found at the Spring. Medeota 

 Lily, or Little Martagon, perhaps what we got by the branch at 

 Elm Hill, with the Whorled leaves." 



Orange, lemon, lime, oleander and dwarf myrtle are listed with 

 others under the head of "House Plants." 



A "Memo : respecting raising Trees" gives methods of propaga- 

 tion, from seeds and from scions, of the poplar, mulberry, cedar 

 and holly. The directions for the latter, when raised from seeds, 

 ends with the patient announcement "They will be large enough to 

 plant out in four years" ! 



Of Fruit Trees, there is a lengthy and most tempting list, each 

 item of which, where a gift is followed by the name of the donor: 



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