R H E 



R H O 



rnwch so, lest the roots be too fibrous : it 

 can scarcely be loo dry, tor more evil is to be 

 expected from a superaljundaiicy of moisture 

 than from any aclual want of it. If, with these 

 advantaoes, the plantation can be placed on a 

 centle declivity, such a situation may be said to 

 Be the inost desirable. Where a plantation docs 

 not possess the natural advantage of being on a 

 decliviiv, narrower beds and deepened trenches 

 are among the artificial means that should be 

 adopted; but most situations will require some 

 care to prevent the ill eiTects of water remaining 

 on the crowns of the plant.s: therefoTc, when 

 the seedstalks are cut oft", which ought always 

 to he done immediately upon the withering of 

 the radical leaves, they should be covered with 

 mould in form of a hillock. This process will 

 answer two good purposes ; that of throwing off 

 the rain, and keeping open the trenches by tak- 

 ing the earth from them. 



It is observed that, the injuries to which the 

 young plants are most liable, are from slugs 

 and other small vermin, from inattention to the 

 season and manner of planting, and from too 

 great an exposure to frost. Little damage is to 

 be feared from heat ; and in general they are 

 hardy and easy of cultivation when arrived be- 

 yond a certain term. 



It is advised to take great care of the nursery- 

 bed, as the pains bestowed by constant water- 

 ings, and protecting the young plants from the 

 ravages of insects, will amply repay the planter. 

 Roots that thrive well here, will in three years 

 arrive at an equal size with others, that have 

 not succeeded so well, at the end of live. When 

 a plantation is to be formed, or a vacancy filled 

 up, select the finest and most thrifty plants. 

 No plant will come to any thing when it has 

 lost its principal bud. 



It is observed, that there is a diftereuce of 

 opinion in respect to the age at which the roots 

 oueht to be taken up for use ; but is probably 

 bcb't done from four to eight years. 



It is best taken up in the autumn in a dry 

 time, and should be immediately dryed and j)rc- 

 pared by cutting into pieces and cleaning. 



Some plants of each of the .sorts may also be 

 introduced in the dry borders and clumps for the 

 ornamental effect of the leaves and flowers. 



KHEXIA, a genus containing plants of the 

 hardv herbaceous perennial kind. It Inlongs to 

 the class and order Octandria Monoifi/iiia, and 

 ranks in the natural order of Calycanthfwcp. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed perianth, tubular, ventricose at bottom, 

 oblons;, with a four-cleft border, permanent : 

 the co'rolla has four roundish petals inserted in- 

 to the calyx, spreading : the stamiixa have eight 



filiform filaments longer than the calyx, and in^ 

 scrted into it : anthers declining, grooved, li- 

 near, blunt, versatile; the pistillum is a roundish 

 germ ; .style simple, the length of the stamens 

 declining : stigma thickish, oblong : the peri- 

 carpium is a roundish four-celled, lour-valved, 

 capsule, within the belly of the calyx : the seeds 

 numerous, roundish. 



The species are : I. R. vircrinica, Virginian 

 Rhexia: --l. R. Mariana, Maryland Rhexia. 



The first rises with an erect stalk near a foot 

 and half Inch, four-cornered and hairy : the 

 leaves lanceolate, hairy, about two inches long, 

 and half an inch broad, entire and opposite: 

 the stalk has two peduncles coming out irom the 

 side opposite to each other at the upper joint, 

 and is terminated by two others ; these each 

 sustain two or three red flowers with heart-shap- 

 ed petals, spreading open in form of a cross, and 

 appear in June. It is a native of North Ame- 

 rica. 



The second species sends up an erect stalk 

 about ten inches high : the leaves lanceolate, 

 about an inch long, and a third part of an inch 

 broad, set on by pairs ; and from every joint of 

 the stalk two short shoots come out opposite, 

 with small leaves of the same shape ; the whole 

 plant is thick set with stinging iron- coloured 

 hairs : the stalk divides at the top into two 

 peduncles, spreading from each other, having 

 one or two reddish flowers on each, with a 

 single subsessile flower between them ; thev 

 have four heart-shaped petals, which spread 

 ojien as in the preceding. It flowers about the 

 same time, and is a native of Maryland, Brasil, 

 Surinam, &c. 



Culture. — These plants ma\- be increased by 

 sowing the seeds procured from their native si- 

 tuations, in the autumn or sprinsr, in pots filled 

 with good fresh mould, placing them under the 

 protection of frames, or if in a mild hot-bed they 

 will be rendered more forward. When sown at 

 the latter season, the plants seldom appear the 

 same year. When the plants have attained suf- 

 ficient ijrowth they should be planted out partly 

 in a dry siieltered east border and partly in pots, 

 to have the protection of a- frame against the 

 frosts in winter. They flower the second year, 

 and with care continue three or four. 



They aftbrd ornament in the borders as well as 

 among flowerv potted plants. 



RHODIA.' See Rhodiola. 



RHODIOLA, a genus comprising a plant of 

 the low herbaceous, odoriferous, succulent per- 

 ennial kind. It belongs to the class and order 

 Dioecia Octandria, and ranks in the natural 

 order of SucmUmtce. 



The characters of which are : that in the 

 2X2 



