By Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq. 



27 7 



Sect. 2. 



Costus Vaginalis. MSS. Costus arabicus. Willd.Sp.PI. 

 v. I. p. 2. Costus glabratus. Swartz. Prodr.p.2. Costus. Linn. 

 Hort. Cliff, p. 2. 



From a catalogue of exotics in the garden of Dr. Ri- 

 chardson, at North Bierly, in Yorkshire, who is supposed 

 to have had the first hot-house erected in that county, it 

 appears that he received this plant from Leyden, as early as 

 the year 1736. By him it was soon increased, and communi- 

 cated to a younger physician, and fellow student of his son's, 

 while in Holland, Dr. Milner of Leeds ; who, though he had 

 only a large green-house, contrived to preserve many tender 

 plants in*a deep bark-pit, .lined with stable-dung, in winter. 

 In this bark-pit, where through neglect, it had been permitted 

 to occupy a large space, it flowered at last, in the year 1768 ; 

 when John Blackburn, Esq. being informed of the cir- 

 cumstance, by one of his sons, settled as a merchant at 

 Leeds, came over from Orford, to see it: In Dr. Milner's 

 garden, among other botanists of less note, he found as- 

 sembled the celebrated Dr. Fothergill, then on a visit to 

 his nephew, a linen draper in the town ; old Mr. Thomas 

 Knowlton, from Londesborough ; Mr. Ewbanke, a skilful 

 druggist from York ; and Mr. James Bolton, from Hali- 

 fax, who had been sent for, to make a drawing of the 

 plant, which, through the kindness of the late Sir William 

 Milner, Bart, is now in my possession. Being then a 

 boy, I also, with some difficulty, obtained leave to remain 

 in the garden, where I had been long anxiously waiting, 

 and I have a clear recollection of great debates arising 



