SECT. xvni. OF FLOWERS. 291 



nuals introduced for variety's sake in large gardens, 

 plantations, &c. are weed-like, dull, and rambling ; 

 and perhaps, a few among those here is mentioned 

 may not be sufficiently ornamental (as, for instance, 

 the whites, where there are other colours of the same 

 flower) to give general satisfaction ; for a gay ap- 

 pearance is certainly the first object in the cultiva- 

 tion of flowers to adorn our walks. There are rare 

 plants, and others admirable in their structure and 

 properties, which make no shew ; but these are ra- 

 ther subjects for the curious botanist) and he will 

 deservedly think them worthy of a place in his 

 garden. 



Some flowers are both beautiful and fragrant ; but 

 many have only one of these properties to recom- 

 mend them. Some are cultivated chiefly for the 

 beauty or elegance of their leaf', as the tricolor, ice 

 plant, palma, christi, and the curled mallow ; and 

 some that bear pretty and sweet flowers, are meanly 

 furnished with leaves, as the yellow sultan. Others 

 obtain a place in the garden, neither for fragrance, 

 or flower, or leaf; but merely for the singularity of 

 the fruit, or seed vessel, as the egg plant, snails, 

 caterpillars, hedge hogs, horns, and others. 



In the given list, some of the tender annuals may 

 occasionally be considered as less tender ; as Ama~ 

 ranthus, coxcomb, and tricolor, balsams double, as 

 well as single, and stramonium ; only they will not 

 be so forward and fine. Some of those also among 

 the less tender may be sown as hardy, for a late 

 blow, as China-aster, Indian pink, love lies .bleeding, 

 French and African marigold, princes feather, ten 

 weeks stocks, and sweet sultan. Some among the 

 }iardy annuals may advantageously be treated as the 

 less tender, to ensure their germination, or to bring 

 them Jorward, as belvldere, Indian corn, (the large 



V 2 



