HYPERICEE.

HYPERICUM,

POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA.

French, la toute-saine [all-heal].—Italian, androsemo; erba rossa. English, Tutsan, evidently a corruption of the French name; and Park-leaves, because it is often found in parks.

THERE are a great number of Hypericums, all of easy culture. The following are the most generally cultivated in our gardens:

Those marked with an asterisk may be readily increased by parting the roots, in September or October. The flowers are yellow, generally in bloom from July to September; but the Chinese species will continue in blossom nearly all the year. The earth should be kept moderately moist.

The leaves of the Common Tutsan were formerly applied to fresh wounds, whence it obtained the French name, la toute-saine, and our name, Tutsan. It is a native of this country, and most other parts of Europe.

The Perforated Hypericum, or St. John's Wort,—in French, le millepertius [the many-pierced]; l'herbe de St. Jean; le trucheran; le trescalan jaune: in Italian, pilatro;

iperico; perforata-is common in woods, hedges, &c. in almost every part of Europe. On account of its balsamic qualities it is useful in medicine: an infusion of it is made in the manner of tea; and the leaves given in substance are said to destroy worms. An infusion of the flowers and young tops of this plant in oil is used externally in wounds, &c. The flowers tinge spirits and oils with a fine purple colour; and the dried plant boiled with alum dyes wool yellow.

Mistaking the meaning of some of the medical writers, who, from a supposition of its utility in hypochondriacal disorders, have given it the fanciful name of fuga damonum [devil's flight], the common people in France and Germany gather it with great ceremony on St. John'sday, and hang it in their windows as a charm against storms, thunder, and evil spirits. In Scotland, also, it is carried about as a charm against witchcraft and enchantment; and they fancy it cures ropy milk, which they suppose to be under some malignant influence. As the flowers, rubbed between the fingers, yield a red juice, it has also obtained the name of sanguis hominis [human blood] among fanciful medical writers.

Cowper speaks of the Hypericum as remarkably full of blossom: the species vary in this particular:

'Hypericum all bloom, so thick a swarm

Of flowers, like flies clothing her slender rods,

That scarce a leaf appears."

GRAMINEE.

INDIAN CORN.

ZEA.

MONOECIA TRIANDRIA.

Called also Maize; Turkey Corn.-French, le mais; mayz; blé de Turquie; blé d'Espagne [Spanish corn]; blé de Guinée [Guinea corn]; ble d'Inde [Indian corn]; gros millet des Indes [great Indian millet].-Italian, gran Turco, furmento Turco [Turkey wheat]; formentone; grano d'India.

THIS corn should be sown early in April, in large deep pots. It may be sown, at first, several in one pot, and afterwards removed; transplanting them into separate pots about the end of May. It will not grow so high in a pot as in the open ground, but is worth raising in this manner for the sake of its long elegant leaves. It should stand in the open air, and, in dry weather, be watered every evening. If there is convenient room for it in-doors, the seed may be sown a month earlier, and kept under cover till the beginning or middle of April. The plant will decay in the autumn.

INDIAN PINK.

DIANTHUS CHINENSIS.

Called also China Pink.-French, l'oeillet de la Chine.

THE Indian Pink is generally considered as an annual plant, and therefore the roots are not often preserved; but, if they are planted in a dry soil, they will often produce finer flowers the second year than the first, and in greater number. It is a very ornamental plant, from the

various and beautiful colours of its blossoms. It may be sown early in April; if in a pot six inches wide, only one; but they look better sown in a box, many together, about six inches apart. They may stand abroad: in dry weather they should be watered three times a week. They will flower from July till the approach of frost; if they are then cut down, the root will generally put out new stalks, and flower well the next year.

CONVOLVULACEE.

IPOMOEA.

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

. This genus is very nearly allied to the Convolvulus, and the name is derived from Greek words, expressive of its similarity to that flower.

THE Ipomoea is very beautiful, but unfortunately very tender, being chiefly Indian. One species in particular would be desirable. The Ipomoea Quamoclit-in French, Jasmin rouge de l'Inde [Red Indian Jasmine]; Fleur de Cardinal [Cardinal-flower].-Italian, Quamoclito-which is the most beautiful of them all, in colour and in form, in leaf and in flower. "It is a beautiful climber," says Sir W. Jones; "its blossoms are remarkably elegant and of a rosy red." It has the scent of cloves. It is called by the Indians Camalata, or Love's-creeper.

There are two kinds which may be procured at a nursery, and preserved through the summer in an inhabited room: the Coccinea, or Scarlet-flowered Ipomoea, and the Nightshade-leaved, the blossoms of which are of a pale rose colour. The earth must be kept moderately moist, but water must be given but in small quantities at one time. The plant will require support.

There is a species of the Ipomoea, which, from one root, may be carried over an arbour three hundred feet in

length: it is a perennial species, and is called in Jamaica, the Seven-year-vine, or Spanish Arbour-vine.

"The Camalata," says Sir W. Jones, "is the most lovely of its order, both in the colour and form of its flowers; its elegant blossoms are 'celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue,' and have justly procured it the name of Camalata, or Love's-creeper. Camalata may also mean a mythological plant, by which all desires are granted to such as inherit the heaven of India; and if ever flower was worthy of Paradise, it is our charming Ipomoea."

IRIS.

IRIDEE.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

So named for its variety of colours. It is also named Flower-deluce.-French, fleur-de-lys; iris; flambe; and glaieule; in the village dialect, glè; baguettes.—Italian, iride; giaggiolo; giglio.

THIS flower claims the whole world as her country: some few species are from America; several are natives of the colder regions of Asia; still more, of Europe; and most of all, of the Cape of Good Hope.

Some of the species have very large flowers, which, from their colours being very vivid, and several uniting in the same blossom, are extremely showy. Many of them are bulbous-rooted; and of these the most esteemed is the Persian Iris; for the beauty and fragrance of its flowers, and for their early appearance; for it is generally in full perfection in February, or early in March. A few of these flowers will perfume a whole room: their colours are a mixture of pale sky blue, purple, yellow, and sometimes white. This kind, the Tuberous-dwarf, and the Spanish bulbous Iris, may be blown in water-glasses, as directed