172 THE FEITTELARIA. 



pleasant smell, which, when the plants are in rapid 

 growth, is distributed over the whole plant, so that 

 the breeze blowing over a bed of crown imperials is 

 by no means pleasantly perfumed. The flowers, how- 

 ever, are fragrant : they are remarkable for the drops 

 of honey which stand in the petals of the flower, and 

 which shine with peculiar lustre. This property is 

 possessed in common by all the family, but in the 

 greatest degree by this species. 



The ovaries, after the fading of the flower, become 

 erect, and produce abundance of seed. 



This species should be planted six inches deep, in 

 a very rich soil. The stems appear early in spring, 

 but die away by the last of June ; and their place 

 may be occupied by bedding-plants. These plants look 

 well in a large bed composed of mixed varieties, of 

 which those with golden and silver striped foliage are 

 the finest-foliaged plants of early spring. 



There are many varieties, of which the single red, yel- 

 low, and those with variegated foliage, are the best. The 

 double varieties are by no means as good as the single. 



F. Persica. This very handsome plant is as hardy 

 as the crown imperial, and requires the same culture. 



