
NATURAL HISTORY. 249) 
Saviour. The leaves are pointed, like a crown of 
thorns : Thg whitenelfs of the leaves reprefents the 
wanocence of Chrift; the red ftrings are emblems of 
duis being fcourged; and the little column, in the 
middle of the flower, is thought by divines to be the 
figure of the pillar to which our Saviour was bound : 
Another part reprefents the fponge ; and the itamina, 
growing over the pillar, remind us of the three nails 
_ with which he was nailed to the crofs, and, in a word, 
the pointed leaves raife a perfect idea of the fpear 
with which his facred fid& was pierced. ‘This moft 
curious flower grows in all forts of ground, efpecially 
wm a foilinclinable to moift rather than light; itis 
multiplied by roots fet three inches deep. As the 
ats fpread .confiderably, cate fhould® be taken ‘to 
prevent their injuring the roots: of ather neighbours 
ang Howers. 4 
—ScGeME MEG 
*. 
AMARANTHUS is 
i S.a plant that has, rifing from its root, leaves that 
are large, pointed, of a brownifh green, bordered 
with red. From the centre of thefe leaves grows a 
fem about eighteen inches high, of a red colour, bear- 
amg flowers either of a violet, purple, crimfon, or- 
amge, red, or fcarlet colour. From the beauty and 
feuphiciey of thefe colours, the amaranthus is always 
efteemed as a moft valuable appendage to a garden. 
The feed, which is remarkably fmall, curious and 
beautiful, is preferved in little boxes uatil the winter. 
Thefe flowers appear graceful in pots filled with 
kitchen garden earth. and bed mould. lf watered 
corftantly and carefully, they will grow, in this fiate, 
to a fine fize, and will make a. moft beautiful appear- 
ance; And, asthe flowers continue a confiderable 
