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The Chctmciers are ; 



If hath a perennial Root, und the 

 Appearance of a Shrub : The Leaves 

 e^re like thofe of Burnet : The Cup of 

 the Flower is divided into feveral 

 Tarts : The Flower confifts of four 

 Leaves, and is of an anomalous Fi- 

 gure : The Fetals (or Leaves) are 

 plac'd fometimes in the Shape of a 

 Fan, and at other times are of a co- 

 rneal Figure : The Ovary becomes a 

 Fruit refembling a Bladder four cor- 

 nered, divided into four Cellsy and 

 pregnant with 9oundif]i Seeds. 

 The Species are j 



I. Melianthusj Africanus. H. 

 L. The large Honey-flower, vul- 

 garly call'dy The Locus or Wild 

 Honey. 



z. Melianthus; Africanus, mi- 

 nor, foetidus. Com. Rar. The fraal- 

 ler ftinking Honey-flower. 



The firft of thefe Plants is pret- 

 ty common in many EyigliJI} Gar- 

 dens, where it is prelerv'd as a 

 Curiofjiy. This produces large 

 Spikes of Chocolate-colour'd Flow- 

 ers in May\ in each of which is 

 contained a large Quantity of a black 

 fweet Liquor, from whence it is 

 luppos'd to derive its Name. 



^This Plant was formerly pre- 

 ferv'd in Green-houfes as a tender 

 Exotick ; but, if planted in a dry 

 Soil, and a warm Situation, v/i:l 

 endure the Cold of our ordinary 

 Winters very well ; and if, in a ie- 

 vere Frofl, the Tops of them fliould 

 be deftroyed; yet the Roots will 

 abide, and put forth again the liic- 

 ceeding Spring, fo that there is ncf 

 great Danger of lofing it ; and the 

 Plants which grow in the open 

 Air, do always flower much bet- 

 ter than thoie v/hich are preferv'd 

 in the Green-houfe, as being lels 

 drawn, which ohen prevents their 

 producing any Fiov/ers. 



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This Plant may be propagated 

 by taking off its Suckers or Side- 

 fhoots any Time from March ro 

 September, obferving to chuie fuch 

 as are furnifli'd with Fibres ^ and 

 after they are planted, you mull: 

 water, and ftiade them, until they 

 have taken Root, after which they 

 will require no farther Care but to 

 keep them clear from Weeds : 

 They may alfo be propagated by 

 planting Cuttings, during any of 

 the Summer Months; which, if 

 water'd and fhaded, will take Root 

 very well, and may afterwards be 

 tranfp'anted where they are dc- 

 lign'd to remain. 



The fecond Sort is Xq^^s common 

 than the former, and only to be 

 found in fome curious Golled:ions of 

 Plants, tho' it feems to be equally 

 as hardy as the former. This pro- 

 duces lelicr Spikes of Flowers, but 

 they are much more beautiful than 

 the former, their Flowers having 

 a Mixture of Red, Green and Yel- 

 low. This produces its Flowers 

 in May, and fometimes perfedls 

 its Seeds with us, by which it 

 may be propagated : And the Plants 

 obtain'd from fuch Seeds, would 

 be hardier than thofe which come 

 from Abroad, or are rais'd from Slips. 

 This may be propagated in the 

 fame Manner as the former, and 

 requires much the fame Culture, 

 though it is commonly preierv'd 

 in the Grecn-houie; but I have 

 feen Plants of this Kind which 

 •s^rere erowins^ in the Gardens of 

 Charles dn Bais, Elq; at Mitcham 

 in Surrey, under a warm Wall, 

 which produc'd a greater Quantity 

 of Flowers, and ripened their Seeds 

 better than any of thoie Plants 

 which v/ere preierv'd in the Green- 

 houfe. This Sort commonly grows 

 to a greater Height than the for-' 



