FILAMENTS OF THE BARBERRY. 87 



not of so rich a quality. Flowers which have many 

 petals often become full; but those of one petal are 

 more disposed to be changed into double or treble, 

 &c., which botanists call being Multiplied. In 

 either state, they are generally thought to be more 

 beautiful, and are very much valued by gardeners. 

 A Dutch florist at Haerlem used to throw the 

 double hyacinths out of his collection ; till, by ac- 

 cident, one of them attracted his attention, and 

 appeared to be so beautiful, that he cultivated the 

 plant, and raised others from it. These were so 

 much prized, that he sold them at a high price, and 

 afterwards cultivated double flowers with as much 

 care as he had formerly taken to reject them ; and, 

 at last, double hyacinths came into such request, 

 that from one to two hundred pounds have been 

 given for a single root. 



The genus Al'lium includes the different species 

 of Leek, Onion, Shalot, and Garlic. The broad- 

 leaved leek, Al'lium Por / rum, and the common 

 onion, Al'lium Ce'pa, which are cultivated in al- 

 most every cottage garden in this country, are 

 natives of Switzerland. 



There is one circumstance relating to the Bar- 

 berry, Ber'beris vulga'ris, that deserves particular 

 attention. The flowers contain six stamens, each 

 of them fastened by its lower part to one of the 

 petals, which are also six in number : the filaments 

 G 4 





