TKE SriniiE-WdltT. 67 



in a eomfortalile place when we find liini appfiinted gardener 

 to Kint;- Charles I.^ in the year Ui:i'.j ; Tradescant's garden 

 1 icing then in Lamhctli, and the king's garden a place 

 of smallest import, for in that year his Majesty dissolved 

 the Parliament and tried the experiment of governing 

 withont one. Tradcscant's son made a voyage to Virginia, 

 and in returning brought homo many strange plants. 

 Thus was formed the nucleus of the curious collection 

 which afterwards was known as "Tradcscant's Ark," an 

 account of which was published in the " j\Iuscum Tradcs- 

 cantianum," IG.jG. To this volume were j)re(ixed portraits 

 of the father and son, engraved by Hollar. To the fathi'r 

 John, succeeded the son John, who bequeathed the museum 

 to Klias Ashmole, so that it became ultimately a part of 

 the celebrated Ashmolean Museum. In this museum were 

 " two feathers of the phamix tayle," which of course 

 makes an end of all questions as to the reality of the 

 phrenix. The son died in 16iJ;J, and a curious monu- 

 ment in memory of the family was erected by his widow 

 in Lambeth churchyard. An interesting account of the 

 Tradescantian garden was drawn up in 1749 bv Sir "William 

 "Watson, and printed in " Philosojihical Transactions," 

 viil. xlvi. 



Returning to our plant, we must confess to igufu'ance 

 of what is termed its " life-history," and on one point our 

 ignorance is now brought home to us. We have never 

 looked for seed on our spider-worts, and we have no recol- 

 lection of having seen seeds offered for sale, and we really 

 cannot say if it produces seed in this countr}-. IIowe\'er, 

 this is of no great consequence, Ijccause tiie plant can lie 

 divided ail iiilliul inn , and it is merely a ([uestion of time 

 when a, stock is required. To enjoy them, indeed, they 



