March. 
eer® >, 
I 
OF GARDENING. 
and divided in a fingular Manner into two Parts 
at the Extremity. 
The Bottom of the tubular Part, where it rifes 
from the Cup, is of a blueifh Red, the Body red- 
er; and within the Mouth are Spots of the high- 
eft Crimfon, as if laid on with a Pencil. 
The Cup in which each Flower is placed, is 
very fhort, form’d of a fingle Piece, and cut at 
the Rim into five Segments. 
The Body of the Flower is form’d of a fingle |. 
Petal; the tubular Part is long, and the Mouth 
opens very wide. 
The upper Lip is broad, arched, and undi- 
vided: the lower is cut into three Parts; and of 
thefe the two Side Segments are turn’d up, and 
the lower one is dependent, round, and prominent 
behind ; and has a Nip in the Extremity. 
This fingular Stru€ture of the Opening in the 
Flower, might very well refer the Plant to a new 
Genus, with thofe who examined Things no 
farther; but every thing confirms the other Ditftri- 
bution. 
The Filaments run up under the upper Lip, 
and they are four in Number ; two are fomewhat 
longer than the others, and they have Heart- 
fhap’d Buttons : the Style fingle, but it rifes from 
a four-parted Fruit, and is terminated by a fine 
Top or Stigma, {plit into two deep Parts, which 
turn backward. : 
Four naked Seeds follow, lodg’d in the Botton 
of the Cup; and from the View of thefe, even 
in their Rudiment, and from, the Inequality of 
the Filaments, our Student will know the Plant 
is one of the Didynamia Gymnofpermia. The Clafs 
comprehending thofe Plants which have two Fila- 
ments longer than the others; and this Subdivi- 
fion, Gymnofpermia, thofe with naked Seeds. 
Culture of this DRACOCEPHALUM. 
The Plant is a Native of North America, 
where it thrives in a deep rich Soil, not too re- 
mote from Rivers: ’tis found in other Situa- 
tions, but it flourifhes only in thefe. 
With us it will ftand fome Seafons in the open 
Ground: but that is hazardous : it deferves a lit- 
tle Care; and to fecure it and preferve all its 
Beauty there does not require much. 
Let it be raifed from Seeds ;. and preferved in 
Pots. | 
Let a Compoft be made like that Soil in which 
it thrives moft, wild: mix two Buthels of rich 
black Meadow-Earth, one Buthel of Pond-Mud, 
N® 29 - 
a Peck of Cow-dung, and half.a Peck of Sand. 
Throw this up in a Heap, and let it have theIn- ° 
fluence of the Weather fix or eight Months, with 
frequent Turnings: the Quantity will be more 
than needed for this Plant; and it will ferve for 
| others from like Soils. 
Seeds fhould be obtain’d from America, and 
early in Spring fown in a Pot of this Compoft, 
fet up to the Rim in a moderate Bark-Bed; or if 
Hot-Bed of Dung that has loft its firft Heat - 
they fhould be covered a Quarter of an Inch with 
the fare Mould ; and when the Plants appear they 
muft have gentle Waterings, and by Degrees a 
little Air. 
When they are two Inches high, let as many 
as are intended to be rais’d be anton out into 
feparate Pots: watering them carefully, and 
fhading them. in. the £ine Hot-Bed with Mats, 
till they are well rooted in the new Mould, 
‘Then they mutt be inur’d to the Air; and 
early in Summer fet out in a warm and well thel- 
ter’d Place. 
The Earth on the Surface of the Pots mutt be 
frequently: ftir’d; a little freth Compoft put on, 
twice in the Summer ; ; and they muft. be water’d — 
once in two or three Days. 
Some of them will flower the fame Year; and — 
of the others, fome, with due Care in Winter, 
will throw out their Stalks for flowering early 
in the Spring : a fingular Time for fuch a Plant; 
and thefe will gain new Value from that Novelty. 
In the latter End of September let the Stalks of 
thofe which have flower’d be cut'down; aad let 
a {mall Quantity of frefh Comipoft be fpread over 
the Surface of the old, in all the Pots. 
Let them be fet under a Frame, fuch as ig 
us’d to cover Hot-Beds; and in mild Weather 
let fome Ait be admitted. 
In the Beginning of March let the old Earth 
be remov’d as low as it can be taken out without 
injuring the Roots, and the Place fupply’d with 
frefh Compott. 
After this, as the Weather grows warmer, let 
them be brought to bear the free Air; and in 
April fet out for flowering, in a warm ‘thelter’d 
Place. They muft be water’d frequently to pro-. 
mote the free fhooting of the Stalk, and to All 
the Buds of their numerous F lowers. 
After this, once a Year the Roots fhould be 
taken up, their extreme Fibres trim’d, and, when 
they are. large enough, parted for encreafing the 
Plants. They will grow ftronger every Year. 
§. TU TSAN- 
341 
March, 
