R U 



R U 



with the Fruit growing upon the 

 Edges of the Leaves. 



6. Ruscus vulgaris, folio am- 

 pliore. Hart. Paf. Butchers- broom 

 with a larger Leaf. 



7. Ruscus vulgaris , folio angu- 

 fiiore. Narrow - leav'd Butchers- 

 broom. 



The firft Sort is very common in 

 the Woods in divers Parts of Eng- 

 land, and is rarely cultivated in Gar- 

 dens. The Roots of this Kind are 

 fometimes ufed in Medicine ; and the 

 green Shoots are cut, and bound 

 into Bundles, and fold to the But- 

 chers, who ufe it as Befoms to fvveep 

 their Blocks ; from whence it had 

 the Name of Butchers-broom. 



The fecond, third, fourth, fixth, 

 and feventh Sorts are hardy Plants; 

 and though not: Natives of England, 

 yet may be preferv'd in Gardens, if 

 planted in a fhady Situation, as in 

 Wildernefs-quarters, i5c. where they 

 ferve to intermix with other Wood- 

 plants, to make Variety. The fecond 

 and third Sorts are fometimes ufed in 

 Medicine. 



The fecond Sort has fmall Leaves 

 growing out of the Middle of the 

 larger ; lb it is called Bis -lingua by 

 fome Writers. The other Hands in 

 the Difpenfaries under the Title of 

 Laurus Alexandrina. 



Thefe Plants produce their Flow- 

 ers and Fruit on the Middle of their 

 Leaves, which are of the Size of 

 fmall Cherries ; and being of a fine 

 red Colour, make a pretty Appear- 

 ance, efpecially when there is plenty 

 of the Fruit on the Plants. The 

 Fruit is ripe in Winter ; fo that there 

 are fome Perfons who cut the Bran- 

 ches with their ripe Fruit, to put in- 

 to Bafons, for adorning their Rooms 

 at that Seafon, when there are few 

 other Plants in Beauty ; and thefe 

 will keep frefh a long time, when 

 put into Water, 



Thefe Plants may be propagated 

 by parting their Roots in the Spring 

 of the Year, before they begin to 

 make new Shoots; obierving, if the 

 Seafon be dry, to water them until 

 they have taken Root ; after which 

 they will require no farther Care, 

 but to keep them clear from Weeds ; 

 obferving not to transplant or d;i- 

 turb their Roots oftener than once 

 in thrte Years ; for when they are 

 often remov'd, they feldom mri\e 

 well, and rarely produce Fruit. 



The fifth Sort ;s tender, and mult 

 therefore be placed in Pots filled 

 with frefli Earth, and in Winter put 

 into the Green houfe; but it mould 

 be placed where it may have free Air 

 in mild Weather, and be conltantly 

 watered : in which Management 

 this Plant will fend forth Stems fix 

 or eight Feet high, furnilh'd with 

 Leaves from Bottom to Top; and in 

 Junew'il] be clofely fet with Flowers 

 upon their Edges, which make a 

 a very beautiful and odd Appear- 

 ance, and renders it worthy of a 

 Place in every good Collection of 

 Plants. This is alfo propagated by- 

 parting the Roots, as the former, 

 which mould not be done very of- 

 ten ; becaufe, if the Roots are not 

 permitted to remain fome time to 

 get Strength, they will produce but 

 weak Shoots, and very few Flowers: 

 and in the Strength of their Shoots, 

 and Number of Flowers, the great- 

 er!: Beauty of thefe Plants confitb, 

 This Sort grows plentifully at Ma- 

 deira, from whence the Seeds may 

 be procur'd ; but this commonly lies 

 in the Ground a Year before the 

 Plants come up ; fo mould be (own 

 in Pots filled with freih Earth, and 

 placed under an Hot-bed-frame in 

 Winter, to fcreen the Seeds from 

 the Froft; and the following Spring 

 the Plants will appear. 



It is generally fuppofed, that it 



was 



