A M B 



A M B 



where the situation is dry; but where the ground 

 is wet, it should be raised eight or nine inches 

 higher. In this bed, about the beginning of July, 

 as before directed, plant the roots about six or 

 eight inches asunder each way ; and in the win- 

 ter, when the frost begins, cover the bed with a 

 frame, or arch it over, and cover it with mats 

 and straw, to prevent their leaves from being 

 pinched by cold. In the spring, the covering 

 should be entirely removed, and the bed kept 

 constantly clean from weeds dining the summer, 

 stirring the surface of the earth now and then ; 

 and annually, when the leaves are decayed, sift 

 a little fresh earth over them, to encourage the 

 growth of the roots. 



The roots may remain in these beds until they 

 arc of sufficient strength to produce flowers, at 

 which time they may be taken up and planted 

 in pots, as before directed, or be suffered to re- 

 main in the same beds to flower. These plants 

 tlo not flower again the succeeding year, as in 

 many other sorts of bulbous-rooted plants ; but 

 where the bulbs contain two buds in their cen- 

 tres, as is often the case, they frequently flower 

 twice in the course of about three years ; after 

 which the same individual root-bulb does not 

 flower again in several years ; but this is performed 

 by the offsets, which are taken from it at differ- 

 ent times. 



The eleventh species, or Ceylon Lily, is of a 

 tender nature, and must be treated in the same 

 manner as the Mexican Lily. It is not common 

 in the gardens in this country, as it is a plant 

 which increases but slowly by offsets from the 

 roots. It usually flowers in June and July; and 

 sometimes the same plant will produce flowers 

 again in autumn if the pots be plunged into a 

 bed of tanners' bark; but the flowers are seldom 

 of long duration or great beauty. 



The twelfth species is also of the tender kind, but 

 may be increased by offsets from the roots, or by 

 the bulbs which succeed the flowers. It should 

 be treated in the same manner as is directed for 

 the Crinums; the proper culture of which may 

 be seen under that head. 



All these bulbous-rooted plants, as being both 

 curious and ornamental, deserve to be cultivated ; 

 tho e of the more tender kinds affording much 

 variety in the stove or greenhouse; while the 

 more hardy sorts produce a pleasing effect in the 

 fronts of beds or borders in the garden or plea- 

 sure-grounds. 



AMBER TREE. See Akthospermum. 



AMBROSIA, a genus comprising different 

 plants, chiefly of the herbaceous kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Monoecia 

 Ha, and ranks in the natural order of 

 i \>i iposit.ee. 



The characters are: that the male flowers are 

 compound : the calyx is a common, one-leafed, 

 flat perianthiimi, of the same length with the 

 floscules : the corolla compound, uniform, lubu- 

 lous, equal, and hemispherical : proper, one- 

 petalled, tubulous, funnel-shaped, erect, quin- 

 quelid : the stamina have very small filaments : 

 anthers erect, parallel, and acuminate: the pis- 

 tillum has a filiform style, of the length of the 

 stamina : the stigma is orbiculate and membrana- 

 ceous : the receptacle is common, scarcely any, 

 naked. The female flowers arc below the males, 

 and double : the calyx is a one-leafed, acuminate, 

 entire, permanent perianthiimi; the belly five- 

 toothed, and one-flowered : no corolla ; the pis- 

 tillum is a germ ovate in the bottom of the 

 calyx : the style filiform, of the same length with 

 the calyx : stigmas two, setaceous, long, and di- 

 varicated : the pericarpium is a subovate nut, 

 formed from the calyx, hardened, one-celled, not 

 opening, crowned with the five acuminate teeth 

 of the calyx : the seed single and roundish. 



The species chiefly cultivated are : 1. A. ela~ 

 tior, Tall Ambrosia; 2. A. arboreseens, Tree 

 Ambrosia; 3. A. maritima, Sea Ambrosia. 



The first species, or Tall Ambrosia, rises from 

 two to three feet in height, upright and branched. 

 The leaves are bipinnatifid. with a very long- 

 point, nerved, wrinkled, somewhat hirsute: the 

 racemes composed of opposite branches, from 

 four to six inches in length, lax, and rather erect. 

 The male flowers are more numerous, approxi- 

 mating, and nodding: the perianthium is common, 

 five-toothed, cup-shaped, with verv minute flo- 

 rets in it : proper, extremely small, five-cleft : 

 the corolla five-parted, the size of the calyx, with 

 ovate, acute segments: the filaments are five: 

 the antheroe are oblong; the rudiment of a 

 pistil : five or six smaller flowers in the ray : 

 their calyx five-cleft : their corolla consisting of 

 five linear petals, no pistil, germ, or pericarp, but 

 an upright, thick, pellucid style, with a pencil- 

 shaped stigma. The female flowers are fewer, 

 sessile, from three to six, and aggregate: the 

 calyx none, except the minute lanceolate leaflets 

 between the germs : the germ oblong, angular: the 

 style two-parted : the stigmas recurved and simple. 



This is an annual herbaceous plant. It is a 

 native of Jamaica; and flowers with us in July 

 and August. 



The second species grows to the height of ten 

 or twelve feet, with a woody stem, dividing into 

 several branches: the leaves are hairy, composed 

 ot several winged lobes, placed alternately: the 

 spikes of flowers are single, hairy, and produced 

 at the extremities of the branches. The female 

 flow ers grow in small separate clusters verv distinct. 



The third species rises about two feet and .a 



