238 FLORA DOMESTTCA. 



JESSAMINE. 



JASMTNUM. 



JASMINES. DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



The name of this plant is derived from the Greek, and signifies an 

 agreeable odour. Nearly all the European languages have the same 

 name for it. In French, it is jasmin : in Italian, gelsomino : Spanish, 

 jasmin : Dutch, jasmyn, &c. &c. In English it is sometimes fami- 

 liarly called Jessamy, Jessima, and Gesse. 



THE kinds of Jessamine most frequently grown in pots 

 are the Yellow Indian, and the Spanish or Catalonian. 

 The first grows to the height of eight or ten feet; the 

 leaves continue green all the year, and the blossoms are of 

 a bright yellow, very fragrant, and blowing from July till 

 October or November. They are frequently succeeded by 

 oblong berries, which turn black when ripe. 



The Spanish Jessamine *, so named because it came to 

 us from Spain, is a native of the East Indies. The flowers 

 are of a blush-red outside, and white within : blowing at 

 the same time as the Indian kind. From the middle of 

 May to the middle of October they may stand in the open 

 air; but must then be housed, having as much fresh air 

 as possible in mild weather. They should have but little 

 water at a time, but that should be given often, so that 

 the earth may be always moist. In spring, the decayed 

 branches should be pruned; and of the Spanish kind the 

 sound ones should be pruned to the length of two feet, 

 which will cause them to shoot strong, and produce many 

 flowers. But this liberty must not be taken with the In- 

 dian kind. 



There is an elegant gallantry in the following lines, from 

 the Spanish of Don Luis de Gongora : 



* Italian, Catalogue. 



