ill FAMIIIAS GASlJliX FLOirESS. 



least in some degree. It is more o£ a woodland plant 

 than the cowslip, l()\'iug shade and a peaty or leafy soil ; 

 but it is not particular, and if onee comfortably located 

 will do better left alone than with any possible attentions. 



The plant is a native of Virginia and other parts of 

 North America, whence, according to Philip Miller, it was 

 sent by Mr. Banister to Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, 

 in whose garden at Fulham Miller saw it growing in the 

 year 1709. Linnaeus adopted for it a generic name from 

 Pliny, and a specific name in honour of Dr. Mead, a 

 ]ihysician of great eminence, son of the Rev. Matthew 

 Mead, a Presbyterian divine, who was minister of Stepney 

 during the government of Oliver Cromwell. 



Here is the story as told lang syne. According to 

 Philip Miller, to whom we are indebted for the first proper 

 account of its cultivation, the American cowslip flowers 

 at the beginning of May, and the seeds ripen in Julv, 

 soon after which the stalks and leaves decay, so that 

 the roots remain inactive till the following spring. 

 It is propagated by offsets, which the roots put out 

 freely when they are in a loose moist soil and a shady 

 situation ; the best time to remove the roots and tate 

 away the offsets is in August, after the leaves and stalks 

 are decayed, that they may be fixed well in their new 

 situation before the frost comes on. It may also be 

 propagated by seeds, which the plants generall}' produce in 

 plenty; these should be sown in autumn, soon after they 

 are ripe, either in a shady, moist border, or in ]iots, which 

 should be placed in the shade. In the s]iring the plants 

 will come up, and must then be kept clean from weeds ; 

 and if the season ]iro\-cs drv, they must be frei|uent]y 

 refreshed with water. N(H- should they be exposed to the 



