OF GARDENING. 
Auguft. more: they bend dowaiae seeuinidle but this 
not from the Infertion in manner of fuch as flag 
from Heat, or want of Nourifhment; but: the 
Body of the Leaf bending, curls as it were down- 
ward, maintaining all that Afpect of Strength 
and Vigour which is natural to Plants in a per- 
feét Condition of Health. 
The Flowers are innumerable: they crown the 
Top of the main Stalk, and the Shoots which 
rife from the Bofoms of all the upper Leaves in 
extreamly long and. elegant Spikes. They are 
placed clofe together, and have very fhort Foot- 
{talks : their Colour is a delicate yet rich blue, 
with a confiderable Tinge of purple. 
It is not unufual to fee ten, twelve, or more 
of thefe Side Shoots upon a vigorous Plant. 
Every one terminated by its long Spike of Flowers ; 
the whole forming a vaft Cone (as every fingle 
Spike does a fmall one) with the Tops of the 
feveral Spikes gradually afcending above one ano- 
ther, according to the Place of Infertion of their 
Stalks. | : 
Each Flower is placed in its feparate little Cup 
formed of one Piece, and divided at the Rim 
into four fmall pointed Segments. 
‘The Body of the Flower is formed of a fingle | 
~ Petal; tubular at the Bafe, and divided at the 
Rim into four oval and fharp pointed Segments, 
of which the loweft is narrower than the others. 
In the Midit of the Flower are placed two 
Filaments ; thefe turn a little upwards, and are 
- terminated by oblong Buttons, and between them 
is a fingle fmall Style with a fimple Head. 
We ufually fee the Filaments, Style, and But- | 
tons, of a Colour different from the Flower; but 
in this Plant they are often of the fame fine blue 
with the Petals, and appear as a Part of the Body 
_of the Flower. 
This may at firft View perhaps, perplex the 
Student who is feeking for them, to learn the 
Characters of the Plant; but it is a great Addi- 
tion to the Beauty of the Flower; for by this 
Means one uniform and: univerfal blue is fpread 
over the Top of the Plant; and the Eye is 
pleated with the Particularity, though we do not 
_ conceive, unlefs by fuch an n Examination, what 
: it is which occafions it. 
The two Filaments refer the Plant to the fe- 
cond Clafs in the Linn an Syftem, the Dian- 
dria, and the fingle Style to the Monogynia. 
~ Culture of ibis Veronica. 
It is a hardy perennial Plant which will live 
with little Culture, but it will not attain the full 
Vigour and Beauty we have defcribed, unlefs 
fome Care be allowed to it. 
The Seeds ripen very well with us; and tho’ 
the parted Roots will grow freely, the Gardener 
fhould remember that the beft Way . propa- 
gating the Plant is by fowing. 
If the Method by parting the sons. is ufed, 
no particular Care is required, 
rich and deep Mould. 
they muft be | 
planted in Autumn, and fhould be allowed a 
The Seed faved in Fuly or Au out fhould be pre- Augulh 
ferved with Care till the fol lowing Spring; and - 
then fown in the Nurfery,. on a Bed of frefhePa- 
fture Earth. 
When the Plants appear they fhould be thin’d 5 
and in May fome of the moft promifing fhould 
be taken up, and fet at eight Inches afunder 
in a fecond Bed: in the Beginning of September 
they fhould be planted out, where they are 
to remain, and fhould be allowed a Yard Di- 
{tance. 3 — 
The Ground muft be kept clear from ‘Weéds 
| between them, and they muft be frequently wa- 
tered till they are well rooted; and the remaining 
Summer, while they are taking their. Growth; 
the Scope they are allowed, pe the. frequent 
refrefhing of the Ground, by breaking. the Sur~_ 
face, and by watering well, give them the full 
Strength of their Nature: from one good Root 
there will rife eight or ten Stalks, and all will 
be well eau and covered at their Tops 
with Spikes of Flowers. 
Every Autumn thefe Roots sais be taken up, 
trim’d, and planted again in a frefh Part of the 
Garden, or at leaft in a new Parcel of Moulds 
and let it be watched which of them produce 
Flowers with the blue Buttons and Filaments. 
This is a Degeneracy from the Nature and 
Ufe of thofe Parts; for they do not contain 2 
true Farina, or impregnating Duft; nor do fuch 
Plants fo well ripen Seeds, but it is an Effort of © 
Nature toward doubling the Flower. 
We have fhewn on a former Occafion, in what — 
Manner the F ilaments and Buttons become alter- 
ed in the firft Approaches toward Doublenefs in 
Flowers; and this is the Effort Nature makes! 
the fame Way in the prefent Plant. 
’Tis eafy to conceive how noble an A ppear- 
ance the numerous Spikes. of thefe Flowers muft 
make when the Petals were encreafed; and fome- 
thing very near that may be done, by marking 
thofe Plants in which we {ee -this cael to 
it;, and favouring the Difpofition, 
If Seeds ripen perfeétly upon fucks \Plarits, 
they fhould be faved with great Care, and 
fown under all poffible Advantages, as we have 
directed for the raifing other double Flowers; 
and befide attempting the Improvement in a new 
Progeny, the old Roots themfelves fhould be 
treated with particular Attention. They fhould 
be allowed a richer Compoft, and -fuffered to 
produce only a few Stalks, that thofe may be 
better nourifhed. | 
-By this Means may be piieliiegs whole Spikes - 
of Flowers without one coloured Button : ;. and in 
the fineft of them,,the Ends-of the Filaments, 
and the Bodies of the Buttons, wiil be extended 
in’ Breadth till. they refemble Petals, 
this Number . are now in Flower in Lee and 
Kennedy's Rovio ‘at Hammer mith. 
ain p. 
and..the | 
Flower will have great additional Beauty. To 
what farther Degree this Improvement may be — 
carried is yet undetermined. “Adl the Plants of 
