X E 



6, Xeranthemum i fiore purpu- 

 ved, Jimplici mimmo, femine maxi- 

 1^0, H. L. Eternal Flower, or Ptar- 

 mica, with a very fmall, iingle, 

 purple Flower, and a large Seed. 



Thele Flowers were formerly 

 much more cultivated in the E?2gliflj 

 Gardens than at prefenr, efpecially 

 the two Sorts with double Flowers, 

 which the Gardeners near London 

 did cultivate in great Plenty for 

 their Flowers, which they brought 

 to Market in the Winter Seafon, 

 to fet in Glafles in Rooms, to lup- 

 ply the Place of other Flowers, 

 which are not eafy to be procured 

 at that Seafon j for thefe being ga- 

 ther 'd when they are fully blown, 

 and carefully dry'd, will continue 

 frefh and beautiful many Months : 

 But as there are no other Colours 

 in thefe Flowers but White and 

 Purple, fo the Gardeners had a 

 Method of dipping them into vari- 

 ous Tindiures, fb as to have fbme 

 of a fine Blue, others Scarlet, and 

 Ibme Red, which made a pretty 

 Variety j and if they were rightly 

 ftain'd, and afterwards hung up till 

 they were thorough dry, they 

 would continue their Colours as 

 long as the Flowers endur'd. 



All thefe Sorts are propagated 

 by Seeds i which fliould be fown 

 on a warm Border in Augujl, ob- 

 ferving to water and fhade the 

 Ground, if the Seafon proves warm 

 and dry, until the Plants are come 

 up ,• after which they muft: be kept 

 clear from Weeds, and in dry Wea- 

 ther fhould be now and then re- 

 frefh'd with Water. When the 

 Plants are about two Inches high, 

 they fhould be prick'd out into a- 

 nother Border under a warm Wall, 

 Pale or Hedge, at about four or 

 i\vQ Inches Diftance from each o- 

 ther. In this Place, the Plants will 

 endure the Cold of our ordinary 



Vol. H. 



X I 



Winters cxtreamly well ,• and in the 

 Spring, will require no farther* 

 Care but to keep them clear from 

 Weeds i for they may remain in 

 the fame Place for good. In June. 

 they will begin to Hower, and the 

 Beginning of July they will be fit 

 to gather for drying : But a few ofc^ 

 the beft and moft double Flowers 

 of each kind fhould be fuffer'd to 

 remain for Seed, which in about a 

 Month's Time will be ripe, and the 

 Plants will perifli fbon after, fo 

 that the Seeds muft be annually 

 fbwn in order to preferve them. 



The Seeds of thefe Plants are 

 many times fown in the Spring, 

 but they feldom grow fo well at 

 that Seafon, nor will the Plants 

 grow near fo large, or produce 

 near the fame Quantity of Flowers 

 as thofe which are fbwn in Au- 

 tumn, for which ReaibnS thac 

 Time fiiould be preferred. Befides, 

 it often happens, that the Plants 

 which do come up ol the Spring- 

 fbwing, do rarely produce good 

 Seeds, unlefs the Seafon proves ve-' . 

 ry favourable. 



XIPHIONj Bulbous Iris, or Flow^^ 

 er-cle-Luce. 



The Characters are ; 



It hath a Lily Flon^er^ confjl'mg 

 of one Leaf, and JJjap'd exacily like 

 that of the common Iris : the Vointal 

 is furniflj'd with three Leaves, but 

 the Empalement turns to a Fruity 

 fjjap'd like that of the common Iris, 

 and the Root is bidboHSt or confijls 

 of many Coats. 



The Species are ; 



1. Xtphion -y Terficurn, pruox, 

 fiore 'variegato. Tourn. Esrly Perii- 



an bulbous Flower-d?-Luce, with 

 a variegated Flower. 



2. Xiphion; angufifoUiim, fiore 

 albo, labia inferiori ricfns aureo. 

 Boerh. Ind. Narrow-leav'd bulbous 

 Iris, with a whits.. Flower, and the 



U 1 lower 



