the covetousness of King Ahab, with the mischiev- 
ous powers of his wife Jezebel. 
The ancient Greek and Latin authors attribute 
both good and bad qualities to the Cyclamen; and 
our own Gerard, comparatively but few years ago, 
echoes their superstitions. Pliny mentions the plant 
as dangerous, and that passing near it is said to 
produce miscarriage. Gerard gives implicit credit 
to the assertion ; and in the simplicity of his heart, 
good man, guards against misfortune. He says, that 
in his garden, about the place where the Cyclamen 
groweth, he fastened sticks in the ground, and put 
others cross ways over them, least by lamentable 
experiment, his w ords be found true. 
Very few r of the admirers of the Cyclamen endea- 
vour to increase any of them by seed ; w hich must be 
regretted, both on account of the almost certain suc- 
cess which would attend their attempts; and also, from 
their comparative scarcity being thus perpetuated. 
Many have, probably, been deterred from the 
practice, by an erroneous statement, which has been 
copied from book to book, asserting that seedlings 
are five years before they flower. With proper ma- 
nagement, they flower at two years old, and require 
no uncommon attention. 
Seeds should be sown in shallow pots of light rich 
soil as soon as they are ripe, be exposed to the morn- 
ing sun, and kept moderately damp. The plants 
will appear in autumn, and during winter, should 
have protection from frosts. In May they should 
be turned from the pots into a bed of fine soil, and in 
September be repotted. In the following May the 
same course may be again pursued. 
Holt. Kew.2, V. 1, 311. 
