H E 



Where the Soil is very light : there- 

 fore, to prevent this, it will be pro- 

 per to lay a Thicknefs of Rubbifh 

 under the Border, where thele are 

 planted, to hinder them from getting 

 down. This mould always be prac- 

 tifed in light Ground ; but in ftrong 

 Land there will be no Occafion to 

 make ofe of this Precaution ; be- 

 cause they do not fhoot downward fo 

 freely in that. 



This Plant has by fome Botanic 

 Writers been fuppos'd the true Her- 

 modactyl ; but what has been long 

 cfed in Europe for that is the Root 

 of a Colciiicum. 



HERNANDIA, Jack-in a-Box, 

 vulgo-. 



The Chambers are ; 



// hath a jhort muJtifd fpreading 

 hell-fhaped Flower, er a rofaceous 

 Flower, covfejVmg of federal Petals, 

 which are placed in a circular Order; 

 thefe are fame of them barren, and 

 ethers are fertile : the Cup of the 

 Flower afterward becomes an almofl 

 Jpherical Fruit, which is fwelled and 

 perforated, containing a Jlriated 

 roundijh Nut. 



We have but one Species of this 

 Plant ; which is, 



Hernandia amplo heder<s folio 

 umbilicato.Plum. Hernanuia with 

 a large urnbilicated Ivy-leaf, com- 

 monly callM in the Weft-Indies, Jack- 

 in-a-Box. 



This Plant is very common in 

 Jamaica, Barbados, St. Chrifophers, 

 and many other Places in the Wtft- 

 Indies ; where it is known by the 

 Name of Jack-in-a-Box. The Fruit 

 of this Plant, when ripe, is perfo- 

 rated ; and the Nut in the Inlide be- 

 comes hard : fo that when the Wind 

 blows through the Fruit, it makes a 

 whirling Noife, which may be heard 

 at a Diltance ; from whence, I fup- 

 pcfe, :ne Inhabitants gave this Name 

 to the Plant. It grows in the Gul- 



H E 



lies, where there are Rills of Wa- 

 ter. 



In Europe this Plant is preferved in 

 curious Gardens, with oiher tender j 

 Exotic Plants. It is propagated by ' 

 fowing the Seeds on an Hot-bed in 

 the Spring ; and when the Plant* 

 come up, they mutt be planted into < 

 lc prate Pets, and plunged into the 

 Hot-bid again, and afterward muft 1 

 be treated m the fame manner as ^ 

 other tender Exotic Plants, always 

 keeping them in the Bark-Hove. 



The bell time to fhift thefe Plants f 

 is in July, that they may be well root- 

 ed before the Cold approaches ; in I 

 the Winter-feafon they mould have 

 a moderate Share of Heat, and in 

 tiie Summer they muft have plenty 

 of Air in hot Weather. With this 

 Management the Plants will growtc 

 the Height of fixtten Feet, or more 

 and the Leaves, being very large, 

 will make a beautiful Appearance ir. ' 

 the Stove. 



This Plant hath not as yet flower 

 ed in England, though we may ex I ' 

 peel fome of the large Plants « 

 flower in a fhort time. 



HERNIARIA, Rupiurewort. \ 

 The Characters are ; 



T&e Calyx is quadrifd, or, for th 

 moji part, quinqucfd, and expanded i 

 form of a Star, hawing fiue Stamin 

 in the Centre: the Fruit (whic 

 grows on the Bottom of the Flower 

 becomes a membranaceous furrvui 

 round Co.pfule, which is divided ini 

 eight Ceils, each of which conta.il 

 one f mall pointed Seed. 

 The Species are ; 



I Her Maria glabra. J. 1 

 Smootii Rupturewort. 



2. Herkiaria hirfuta. J. 1 

 Rough or hairy Rupturewort. 



3 Herniaria aljines folio. Tom 

 Rupturewort with a Chickwee* 

 leaf. 



4. Herniaria fruiiccfa. viticfti 



