the chief virtuosi of Great Britain. This museum 
or Tradescant’s Ark, as it was called, descended to 
his son John, who also travelled, and added to its 
numerous objects of interest, and when he died be- 
queathed the whole to Mr. Ashmole. This latter 
gentleman presented it, together with coins, medals, 
and manuscripts of his own, to the University of 
Oxford, on condition that a building should be 
erected for their reception, which was excecuted 
about the year 1682, by Sir Christopher Wren. 
Thus was founded the Ashmolean Museum, which 
Mr. Ashmole further enriched at his death, by a 
bequest thereto of his antiquarian library. 
This museum has been further enriched by the 
liberality of many individuals, and is at the pre- 
sent time obtaining more attention than has fallen 
to its lot during the last century. 
This newly-introduced plant, which bears the 
name of the celebrated man above noticed, was 
imported into this country, by G. Barker, Esq. of 
Springfield, near Birmingham ; and named by 
Messrs. Knowles and Westcott, who published it 
in the Floral Cabinet. ‘ It appears ’ says Mr. 
Cameron, ‘ to be perfectly hardy, but still ’ he ob- 
serves, ‘it would be advisable to keep a duplicate 
plant in a cold frame.’ Its spikes of numerous 
flowers, branching out from the main stem, and not 
overshadowed by foliage, have a pretty effect in the 
borders. 
It will grow in any common garden soil, and 
might be increased by cuttings of the young suck- 
ers sent up from the root during summer ; and also 
by dividing its fascicled tubers in spring. 
Flor. Cab. t, 144. 
