A I T 



are kept for the purposes of sowing, as is evinced 

 by inclosing them in vessels closely stopped and 

 prevented from receiving air ; for under such cir- 

 cumstances their germinating property is found 

 to be either completely destroyed or greatly im- 

 paired. On this account many sorts of grain 

 and seeds may be considerably injured and re- 

 tarded in their vegetation, by being deposited too 

 deep in the ground. There are, however, many 

 seeds which are able to retain this faculty, though 

 for a long time buried deep in the soil, as is evi- 

 dent from their readily coming up on the earth 

 being turned up to a great depth by the spade or 

 other means. 



A free exposure to the action of the air is also 

 requisite for the vigorous growth of trees, shrubs, 

 and culinary vegetables, as is shown by their be- 

 coming weak and puny in confined or shaded 

 situations. Fruit is also much injured by the 

 trees being crowded, or having loo great a quan- 

 tity of wood in them. Air is therefore equally 

 necessary to the vegetation and growth of plants, 

 as to the life of animals. 



On these accounts, therefore, all such plants 

 as arc confined under frames and glasses, or pre- 

 served in greenhouses and stoves, should be 

 exposed as much as possible in the middle of the 

 day, when the weather is suitable to the free in- 

 fluence of the air, as where this is neglected they 

 are liable to run up too much, become feeble, 

 lose their colour, and soon die. All the more 

 hardy kinds, that only demand protection in se- 

 vere seasons, should likewise have the full benefit 

 of the open air every day in proper weather, by 

 removing the glasses or other coverings. And 

 even the tender kinds, that require the constant 

 protection of glasses and the aid of artificial heat, 

 as early cucumbers, melons, pines, &c. should 

 have it cautiously admitted by propping up the 

 glasses, 8cc. for a short time, in proportion to 

 the state of the heat and the temperature of the 

 external air, as without this they seldom succeed 

 well, or produce fruit of a good flavour. 



AITONIA, a genus comprehending a shrub 

 of the elegant greenhouse kind. 



It belongs to the class and order of Monadel- 

 ph'ia Octaudria, and ranks in the natural order 

 of Columriiferce . 



The characters arc : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed, erect, four-parted, short perianthium, 

 divided into four ovate, sharp segments : the co- 

 rolla has four erect, equal, broadly-ovate, con- 

 cave, very obtuse petals : the stamina have fila- 

 ments, joined as far as the middle, divided above 

 into eight, awl-shaped, furrowed, standing out 

 of the corolla, and having ovate, furrowed an- 

 therse : the germ superior, ovate, smooth, and 

 subangular : the style one, filiform, of the same 



A J U 



length with the stamina : the stigma obtuse, 

 undivided : the pericarpium is an ovate, drv, 

 membranaceous, four-cornered, one-celled, brit- 

 tle berry : the corners are produced and sharp : 

 the seeds many, fixed to a column, globular and 

 smooth. It varies with five-cleft, ten-stamened. 

 flowers. 



There is only one species at present known, 

 which is the A. Capemis, or Cape Aitonia. 



In this the stalk is shrubby, six feet high, the 

 branches being alternate, roundish, wrinkled, 

 erect, and smooth : the leaves in bunches, lan- 

 ceolate, obtuse, quite entire, and smooth : the 

 peduncles lateral, solitary, one-flowered, smooth, 

 shorter than the leaves, and often recurved : the 

 petals scarlet : the ant he roe yellow, striped with 

 brown : fruit resembling that of the winter 

 cherry. But in this climate it is of slow growth, 

 seldom exceeding three feet in height. After it 

 is of sufficient age, it produces flowers and fruit 

 through most of the year. The segments of the 

 calyx, and the. petals, are red at the ends ; and 

 the fruit is large, angular, and of a fine red co- 

 lour. It is a native of the Cape. 



Culture. — The propagation of this shrub is 

 easily effected by means of the seed, which some- 

 times become sufficiently ripe in this climate.— 

 They should be sown in pots of good mould in 

 the early part of the spring, and then plunged in 

 a hot-bed of moderate temperature. When the 

 young plants are sufficiently strong, they may be 

 removed into larger pots, and receive the same 

 after-management as other plants of the tender 

 greenhouse or stove kinds. 



AJUGA, a genus comprehending several' 

 plants of the Bugle kind, which are herbaceous 

 perennials for the purpose of ornament. 



It belongs to the class and order of Didynamia- 

 Gymtiospermia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Verlicillatee. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed, short perianthium, cut half way into five 

 clefts, with the segments nearly equal : the co- 

 rolla is monopetalous and ringent : the tube cy- 

 lindric and bent in: the upper lip very small, 

 erect, bitid, obtuse ; middle division very large 

 and obcordate, side ones small : the stamina 

 have subulate,, erect filaments, longer than the 

 upper lip : anthene twin : the pistillum has a 

 four-parted germ : style filiform, and with re- 

 spect to situation and length, as in the stamina : 

 stigmas two, slender, the lowest shorter : no pe- 

 ricarpium : the calyx, which is converging, fos- 

 ters the seeds, which are somewhat oblong. 



The species that are deserving of notice for 

 the purpose of cultivation are : 1 . A. reptans, 

 Common Bugle; 2. A. decumhens, Creeping 

 Japanese Bugle; 3. A. pyramidalis, Pyra- 



