FLORA DOMESTICA. 



It gently mitigates, companion fit 

 Of pleasantry and wine ; nor to the bards 

 Unfriendly, when they to the vocal shell 

 Warble melodious their well-laboured songs." 



TUBEROSE. 



POLIANTHES. 



NARCISSEJE. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Polianthes is from the Greek, and signifies City-flower. French, la 

 tubereuse; jacinthe des Indes [Indian hyacinth]. Italian, tuberose; 

 tubero Indiano [Indian bulb]. 



THE Tuberose grows naturally in India, whence it was 

 first brought to Europe. In the warmer parts of the 

 European continent it thrives as well as in its native soil. 

 In Italy, Sicily, and Spain, the roots thrive and propagate 

 without care where they are once planted. The Genoese 

 cultivate it, and send the roots annually to England, Hol- 

 land, and Germany, where the climate is less congenial 

 to it. 



This plant has long been cultivated in English gardens 

 for its extraordinary beauty and fragrance. 



There are several varieties'; one with double flowers, 

 " which was obtained from the seed by Monsieur Le Cour, 

 of Leyden in Holland, who for many years was so tena- 

 cious of the roots, even after he had propagated them in 

 such plenty as to have more than he could plant, that he 

 caused them to be cut in pieces, to have the vanity of 

 boasting that he was the only person in Europe who pos- 

 sessed this flower ; but of late years the roots have been 

 spread into many parts*." 



. * See Miller. 



