\ 
THE GARDENER’S VEGETABLE SYSTEM 
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lower ones ovate, the upper fpear-fhape; and pale flow¬ 
ers.—Native of Italy. 
Thus far compriflng the principal hardy fpecies of 
fhrubby Ciftus, their merit for garden culture, is to 
admit them a; ornamental ever-greens and beautiful 
flewering-fhrubs, in pieafure-ground compartments; in 
which it may be obierv jd, that as in their native places 
of growth, they moitly inhabit dry, warm foils, may 
generally be planted in flmilar fituations, in fhrubbe- 
ries, &c. or will fucceed in any common, tolerably 
dry ground ; and if fomewhat flieltered compartments, 
it will be of advantage to the plants in winter, when 
fevere froft; though they may aMb be planted in any 
expofure, in aflemblage with other ever-greens and 
flowering-lhrub.s, where they may be required; but 
the Cretan Ciftus, and Cijlus halmifolius, being of ra¬ 
ther more tender quality, in winter, than molt of the 
others, particularly the latter, they fnould generally 
have a warm, dry fltuation; however, in our ordinary 
feafons, the fpecies in general her^ enumerated, will 
moitly Hand all weathers, and may all be propagated 
plentifully by feed, layers and cuttings. 
However, as molt of thefe (hrubs are liable to fufFer, 
more or lefs, in very fevere winters, it will alfo be 
proper, where convenient, to have fome of the prin¬ 
cipal or delirable forts planted in pots, in order for 
placing under lhelter in rigorous frolls, in a frame or 
glafs cafe, or under awnings of mats, &c. with other 
ihrubs of flmilar temperature; efpecially in their young 
growth, the flrit year or two after being raifed from 
feed. &c. 
All or molt thefe fpecies of Cijlus are cultivated in 
the nurferies, far {applying Ihrubberies and other com¬ 
partments in pleafure-grounds, either in full colleftion, 
or of any particular or delirable forts required, for 
planting in the proper feafons, autumn orfpring; and 
when deflgned to propagate or raife any of the forts, 
itis effected by flawing the feed in the fpring, in a bed 
of light earth; and by layers and cuttings in the fame 
feafon and early part of fummer. 
Thefe ever-green flowering-lhrubs of the different 
fpecies, are delirable furniture to introduce in princi¬ 
pal Ihrubberies, for ornament and variety, or to beau¬ 
tify any compartments, borders, &c. of pleafure- 
grounds; difpofed, more or lefs forward, according 
to their fizes, diffinguilhable to fight at all feafons; or 
fome principal forts likewife planted in pots. 
In their general growth they are moffly branchy and 
bulhy; many of them rifing with anereft Item, branch¬ 
ing on every fide, their whole length; fome grow more 
fhrubby-like, advancing with feveral Hems from the 
bottom ; others are low, under-lhrubby plants; and the 
whole difplay a pleafing diverfity in their different 
growths, of from a foot or lefs, to two, three or four. 
to five or fix feet; fome ere£t, others fpreading, and 
fomeprocumbent; as alfo in their various foliage, in the 
different fpecies, at all feafons, and numerous,ornamen¬ 
tal flowers in fummer, fome very large and fpreading, 
ethers middling, and fome fmaller; appearing fome in 
May, or the wliole principally in June or July, till 
Auguft; all confpicuous and of long continuance in 
daily fucceflion; for though they are only flowers of 
a day, or the fame flowers being but of one day’s dura¬ 
tion, they are fucceeded by new ones every following 
day, abundantly for feveral weeks, in moll of the 
fpecies, and in many of which are fucceeded by ripe 
feeds. 
Several fpecies of thefe Ciflufes are remarkable for 
imparting a gummy matter from the furface of their 
leaves ar.d Ihoots, efpecially in hot weather; which, in 
the places where they grow naturally in great abun¬ 
dance, is collefted for medical preparations, efpecially 
Gum Ladanum orLabdanum. 
The beft feafon for planting thefe Ihrubs is princi¬ 
pally either in autumn, about September, Odlober or 
November, or in the fpring, in March and April, 
when the weather is fettled in mild. 
They may be introduced both in compartments of 
ever-greens, and in any general fhrubbery compart¬ 
ments, compofed of ever-greens and deciduous Ihrubs, 
in aflemblage, and in borders, &c. contiguous to 
principal walks and lawns; and fome planted in pots, 
to move to any particular compartments, occaflonally. 
To propagate thefe Ihrubs, it may be performed 
botli by feed, as before obferved, and by cuttings of 
the young Ihoots, alfo by layers. 
Sow the feed generally in fpring, about March or 
April, either in a bed or border of light earth, and mold¬ 
ed in half an inch to an inch deep; or fome fowed in 
pots, and thofe plunged in a hot-bed, to forward the 
germination of the feed and growth of the young 
plants, which inuft have plenty of air admitted; they, 
in either method, when come up, and when two or 
three inches high, if very thick, fome may be thinned 
out and pricked in a border, or fome fingly in pots,- 
or the whole pricked out the following fpring; giving 
them proteftion in winter from fevere froft, and in 
fummer, occaflonally watered; and according as they 
increafe in growth, may be tranfplanted in nurfery- 
rows, one or two feet diftance; or when of one, two 
or three feet fize, are proper for final tranfplanting in 
the fhrubbery, or where they are intended ; in which, 
if convenient, to remove them with fmall balls of earth 
to the roots would be of particular advantage. 
By cuttings, thefe fhould be of the young (hoots, 
in April, May or June, planted either in a fhady bor¬ 
der, or feveral together, in largifh pots of good 
earth. 
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