POL 



POL 



six in each cell, in a double row, fastened to 

 the inner angle of the cell, variously angular, 

 eroded on the surface, of a dark rust colour. It 

 is a native of Asia, flowering in May. 



There are varieties with white flowers, with 

 variegated flowers, and with variegated leaves. 



The second species has creeping roots, by 

 which it nnilliplies very fast. The leaves have 

 seldom more than three or four pairs of leaflets, 

 which stand at a much greater distance from 

 each other than those of the common sort, and 

 are of a darker green. The stalks rise nine or ten 

 inches high, sending out branches their whole 

 length. The flowers are produced in loose 

 bunches, on pretty long peduncles ; they are 

 smaller than tliose of the common sort, and of 

 a lighter blue colour. It is a native of America. 



Cullure. — ^These plants may be increased by 

 seeds and parting the roots. 



The seeds should be sown in the spring, upon 

 a bed of light earth, and when the plants are 

 pretty strong they should be pricked out into 

 another ixd of the same earth, four or five inches 

 asunder, shading and watering them until they 

 have taken new rcot ; keeping them clear from 

 weeds until the beginning of the autumn, and 

 then transplanting them into the borders of the 

 pleaiure-ground. The plants are not of long du- 

 ration ; but by taking them up in autumn and 

 parting their roots they may be continued some 

 years : but the seedling plants flower stronger 

 than those from offsets. 



The varieties can only be continued by part- 

 ing the roots at the above season. They should 

 have a fresh light soil, which is not too rich, 

 as the roots will be apt to rot in winter, and the 

 stripes on the leaves to go off. 



The second sort may be increased by seeds or 

 offsets in the same manner, and is equally 

 hardy, but much less beautiful. 



They afford ornament among flowery plants 

 in the borders and other parts. 



POLEY-MOUNTAIN. See Teuciuum. 



POLYANTHES, a genus containing plants 

 of the bulbo-tuberous rooted herbaceous flow- 

 ering perennial exotic kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexandria 

 Monomjnia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Coronar'ice. 



The characters are : that there is no calyx : 

 the corolla one-petalled, funnel-form:' tube 

 curved inwards, oblong : border patulous, with 

 six ovate segments : the stamina have six fila- 

 ments, thick, blunt, at the jaws of the corolla : 

 anthers linear, longer than the filaments : the 

 pistillum is a roundish germ, at the bottom of 

 the corolla : style filifonii, mostly shorter than 

 the corolla : stisnia trifid, thickishj melliferous : 



Vol. II. 



the pericarpium is a roundish capsule, obtusely 

 three-cornered, at the base involved in the co- 

 rolla, three-celled, three-valved : the seeds very 

 manv, flatj incumbent, in a double row, semi- 

 orbiculatc. 



The species is P. iuherosa. Tuberose, or In- 

 dian Tuberous Hvr.cinth. 



It has an oblong bulb-like tuberous root, 

 which is white, s^-iiding forth a few long but 

 very narrow leaves, and an upright, firm, 

 straight stem, of considerable length, which is 

 ternunated by a long spike of large white flow- 

 ers, placed in an alternate manner, it is a na- 

 tive of India. 



There are varieties with a double flower, with 

 striped leaves, and with a smaller flower. The 

 last is frequent in the south of France, whence 

 the roots have been often brought here early in 

 the spring, before those roots iiave arrived from 

 Italy which are annually imported ; the stalks 

 of it are weaker, and do not rise so high, and 

 the flowers are smaller than those of the com- 

 mon sort, but in other respects it is the same. 



The Genoese are the people who cidtivate this 

 plant to furnish all the other countries where 

 the roots cannot be propagated without great 

 trouble and care, and thence the roots are an- 

 nually sent to this and other countries. In most 

 parts of Italy, Sicily, and Spain, the roots thrive 

 and propagate without care where they are 

 once planted. 



It has been long CJiltivated in this country 

 for the exceeding beauty and fragrancy of its 

 flowers. 



Culture. — These plants are chiefly increased 

 by off- sets from the roots. 



The blowing roots that are annually brought 

 from abroad, for sale, are mostly furnished 

 with oft-sets, which should be separated pre- 

 viously to planting; those also raised herein 

 the garden are frequently furnished with off-sets, 

 fit for separation in autumn, when the leaves 

 decay. They should be preserved in sand during 

 winter, in a dry sheltered place; and in the 

 beginning of the spring, as March, be planted 

 out either in a bed of Tight dry earth in the full 

 ground, or, to forward them as much as possible, 

 in a moderate hot-bed, sheltering them in cold 

 weather either by a frame and lights or with 

 mats on arched hoops, letting them enjoy the 

 full air in mild weather, giving also plenty of 

 water in dry seasons during the time of their 

 growth in spring and summer. 



They should remain in this situation till their 

 leaves decay, in autumn ; then they should be 

 taken up, cleaned from earth, and laid in a 

 box of dry sand, to preserve them till spring 

 following,' at which time such roots as are 

 2 K 



