Chapter 1

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THE

~BOTANICAL MAGAZINE~;

OR,

~FLOWER-GARDEN DISPLAYED~:

IN WHICH

The most Ornamental FOREIGN PLANTS, cultivated in the Open Ground, the Green-House, and the Stove, are accurately represented in their natural Colours.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

Their Names, Class, Order, Generic and Specific Characters, according to the celebrated LINNAEUS; their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering:

TOGETHER WITH

THE MOST APPROVED METHODS OF CULTURE.

A WORK

Intended for the Use of such LADIES, GENTLEMEN, and GARDENERS, as wish to become scientifically acquainted with the Plants they cultivate.

~By WILLIAM CURTIS~,

Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS.

~VOL. II~

"A Garden is the purest of human Pleasures." VERULAM.

LONDON:

Printed by COUCHMAN and FRY, Throgmorton-Street,

For W. CURTIS, at his BOTANIC-GARDEN, Lambeth-Marsh;

And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland.

M DCC XC.

[37]

~Chironia Frutescens. Shrubby Chironia.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ rotata. _Pistillum_ declinatum. _Stamina_ tubo corollae infidentia. _Antherae_ demum spirales. _Peric._ 2-loculare.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CHIRONIA _frutescens_, foliis lanceolatis subtomentosis, calycibus campanulatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 229._

CENTAURIUM foliis binis oppositis angustis linearibus, flore magno rubente. _Burm. Afric. 205. t. 74. fig. 1._

Of the genus _Chironia_, ten species are enumerated in Prof. MURRAY's last edition of the _Syst. Vegetab._ of LINNAEUS, exclusive of the _Chironia Centaurium_ which we first added to this genus in the 42d number of the _Flora Londinensis_.

Of these, the _frutescens_ is the most shewy, and therefore the most cultivated.

It is a native of different parts of Africa.

The flowers are produced from June to autumn, and the seeds ripen in October. This plant should be placed in an airy glass case in winter, where it may enjoy a dry air, and much sun, but will not thrive in a warm stove, nor can it be well preserved in a common green-house, because a damp moist air will soon cause it to rot.

The seed of this plant should be sown in small pots filled with light sandy earth, and plunged into a moderate hot-bed; sometimes the seeds will lie a long time in the ground; so that if the plants do not appear the same season, the pots should not be disturbed, but preserved in shelter till the following spring, and then plunged into a fresh hot-bed, which will bring up the plants in a short time if the seeds are good. When the plants are fit to remove, they should be transplanted into small pots, four or five in each pot, then plunged into a moderate hot-bed, where they must have a large share of air in warm weather; when they have obtained some strength, they must be gradually inured to the open air; when exposed abroad, they should be mixed with such plants as require little water, placed in a warm situation, and screened from heavy rains, which are apt to rot them. The cuttings of this sort take root if properly managed. _Miller's Gard. Dict._

[38]

~Viburnum Tinus. Common Laurustinus.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Trigynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-partitus, superus. _Cor._ 5-fida. _Bacca_ 1-sperma.

_Specific Character and Synonyms_.

VIBURNUM _Tinus_ foliis integerrimis ovatis: ramificationibus venarum subtus villoso-glandulosis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 294._

LAURUS sylvestris, corni faeminae foliis subhirsutis. _Bauh. Pin. 461._

The wild Bay-tree. _Park. Parad. p. 400._

We scarcely recollect a plant whose blossoms are so hardy as those of the Laurustinus, they brave the inclemency of our winters, and are not destroyed but in very severe seasons.

The beauties of this most charming shrub can be enjoyed by those only who cultivate it at some little distance from town, the smoke of London being highly detrimental to its growth.

It is a native of Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

Botanists enumerate many varieties of the Laurustinus, and so considerably do some of these differ, that MILLER has been induced to make two species of them, which he distinguishes by the names of _Virburnum Tinus_ and _V. lucidum_; the last of these is the most ornamental, and at the same time the most tender; there are some other trifling varieties, besides those, with variegated leaves, or the gold and silver-striped.

It is only in very favourable situations that these shrubs ripen their seeds in England, hence they are most commonly propagated by layers, which readily strike root: MILLER says, that the plants raised from seeds are hardier than those produced from layers.

It thrives best in sheltered situations and a dry soil.

[39]

~Franklin's Tartar.~

_A Scarlet Bizarre Carnation._

The Carnation here exhibited is a seedling raised by Mr. FRANKLIN, of Lambeth-Marsh, an ingenious cultivator of these flowers, whose name it bears: we have not figured it as the most perfect flower of the kind, either in form or size, but as being a very fine specimen of the sort, and one whose form and colours it is in the power of the artist pretty exactly to imitate.

The _Dianthus Caryophyllus_ or _wild Clove_ is generally considered as the parent of the Carnation, and may be found, if not in its wild state, at least single, on the walls of Rochester Castle, where it has been long known to flourish, and where it produces two varieties in point of colour, the pale and deep red.

Flowers which are cultivated from age to age are continually producing new varieties, hence there is no standard as to _name_, _beauty_, or _perfection_, amongst them, but what is perpetually fluctuating; thus the _red Hulo_, the _blue Hulo_, the _greatest Granado_, with several others celebrated in the time of PARKINSON, have long since been consigned to oblivion; and it is probable, that the variety now exhibited, may, in a few years, share a similar fate; for it would be vanity in us to suppose, that the Carnation, by assiduous culture, may not, in the eye of the Florist, be yet considerably improved.

To succeed in the culture of the Carnation, we must advert to the situation in which it is found wild, and this is observed to be dry and elevated; hence excessive moisture is found to be one of the greatest enemies this plant has to encounter; and, on this account, it is found to succeed better, when planted in a pot, than in the open border; because in the former, any superfluous moisture readily drains off; but, in guarding against too much wet, we must be careful to avoid the opposite extreme.

To keep any plant in a state of great luxuriance, it is necessary that the soil in which it grows be rich; hence a mixture of light-loam, and perfectly rotten horse or cow dung, in equal proportions, is found to be a proper compost for the Carnation. Care should be taken that no worms, grubs, or other insects, be introduced with the dung; to prevent this, the dung, when sifted fine, should be exposed to the rays of the sun, on a hot summer's day, till perfectly dry, and then put by in a box for use; still more to increase the luxuriance of the plants, water it in the spring and summer with an infusion of sheep's dung.

The Carnation is propagated by seeds, layers, and pipings; new varieties can only be raised from seed, which, however, is sparingly produced from good flowers, because the petals are so multiplied, as nearly to exclude the parts of the fructification essential to their production.

"The seed must be sown in April, in pots or boxes, very thin, and placed upon an East border.

"In July, transplant them upon a bed in an open situation, at about four inches asunder; at the end of August transplant them again upon another bed, at about ten inches asunder, and there let them remain till they flower: shade them till they have taken root, and in very severe weather in winter, cover the bed with mats over some hoops.

"The following summer they will flower, when you must mark such as you like, make layers from, and pot them." _Ellis's Gardener's Pocket Calendar._

The means of increasing these plants by layers and pipings, are known to every Gardener.

Such as wish for more minute information concerning the culture, properties, divisions, or varieties, of this flower, than the limits of our Work will admit, may consult _Miller's Gard. Dict._ or the _Florists Catalogues_.

[40]

~Trillium Sessile. Sessile Trillium.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Trigynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 3-phyllus. _Cor._ 3-petala. _Bacca_ 3-locularis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

TRILLIUM flore sessili erecto. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 349._

PARIS foliis ternatis, flore sessili erecto. _Gron. virg. 44._

SOLANUM triphyllum. _Pluk. alm. 352. t. 111. f. 6._ _Catesb. car. t. 50._

Of this genus there are three species, all of which are natives of North-America, and described by MILLER, in his _Gardener's Dictionary_, where the genus is called _American Herb Paris_; but as the _Paris_ and _Trillium_, though somewhat similar in the style of their foliage, are very different in their parts of fructification, we have thought it most expedient to anglicise _Trillium_, it being to the full as easily pronounced as _Geranium_, and many other Latin names now familiar to the English ear.

This species takes its' trivial name of _sessile_, from the flowers having no foot-stalk, but sitting as it were immediately on the end of the stalk.

The figure here exhibited was taken from a plant which flowered in my garden last spring, from roots sent me the preceding autumn, by Mr. ROBERT SQUIBB, Gardener, of Charleston, South-Carolina, who is not only well versed in plants, but indefatigable in discovering and collecting the more rare species of that country, and with which the gardens of this are likely soon to be enriched.

It grows in shady situations, in a light soil, and requires the same treatment as the _Dodecatheon_ and _round-leav'd Cyclamen_. We have not yet had a fair opportunity of observing whether this species ripens its seeds with us: though of as long standing in this country as the _Dodecatheon_, it is far less common; hence one is led to conclude that it is either not so readily propagated, or more easily destroyed.

[41]

~Calceolaria pinnata. Pinnated Slipper-wort.~

_Class and Order._

~Diandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ ringens inflata. _Caps._ 2-locularis, 2-valvis. _Cal._ 4-partitus aequalis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CALCEOLARIA _pinnata_ foliis pinnatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 64._

CALCEOLARIA foliis scabiosae vulgaris. _Fewill Peruv. 3, t. 12. fig. 7._

There being no English name to this plant, we have adopted that of _Slipper-wort_, in imitation of _Calceolaria_, which is derived from _Calceolus_, a little shoe or slipper.

This species of Calceolaria is one of the many plants introduced into our gardens, since the time of MILLER: it is an annual, a native of Peru, and, of course, tender: though by no means a common plant in our gardens, it is as easily raised from seed as any plant whatever. These are to be sown on a gentle hot-bed in the spring; the seedlings, when of a proper size, are to be transplanted into the borders of the flower-garden, where they will flower, ripen, and scatter their seeds; but being a small delicate plant, whose beauties require a close inspection, it appears to most advantage in a tan stove, in which, as it will grow from cuttings, it may be had to flower all the year through, by planting them in succession.

This latter mode of treatment is used by Mr. HOY, Gardener to his Grace of Northumberland, at Sion-House, where this plant may be seen in great perfection.

[42]

~Camellia Japonica. Rose Camellia.~

_Class and Order._

~Monadelphia Polyandria.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ imbricatus, polyphyllus: foliolis interioribus majoribus.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CAMELLIA _japonica_ foliis acute serratis acuminatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. p. 632._ _Thunberg Fl. Japon. t. 273._

TSUBAKI _Kempfer Amoen. 850. t. 851._

ROSA chinensis. _Ed. av. 2. p. 67. t. 67._

THEA chinensis pimentae jamaicensis folio, flore roseo. _Pet. Gaz. t. 33. fig. 4._

This most beautiful tree, though long since figured and described, as may be seen by the above synonyms, was a stranger to our gardens in the time of MILLER, or at least it is not noticed in the last edition of his Dictionary.

It is a native both of China and Japan.

THUNBERG, in his _Flora Japonica_, describes it as growing every where in the groves and gardens of Japan, where it becomes a prodigiously large and tall tree, highly esteemed by the natives for the elegance of its large and very variable blossoms, and its evergreen leaves; it is there found with single and double flowers, which also are white, red, and purple, and produced from April to October.

Representations of this flower are frequently met with in Chinese paintings.

With us, the _Camellia_ is generally treated as a stove plant, and propagated by layers; it is sometimes placed in the green-house; but it appears to us to be one of the properest plants imaginable for the conservatory. At some future time it may, perhaps, not be uncommon to treat it as a _Laurustinus_ or _Magnolia_: the high price at which it has hitherto been sold, may have prevented its being hazarded in this way.

The blossoms are of a firm texture, but apt to fall off long before they have lost their brilliancy; it therefore is a practice with some to stick such deciduous blossoms on some fresh bud, where they continue to look well for a considerable time.

PETIVER considered our plant as a species of Tea tree; future observations will probably confirm his conjecture.

[43]

~Cistus incanus. Hoary, or Rose Cistus.~

_Class and Order._

~Polyandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 5-petala. _Calyx_ 5-phyllus, foliolis duobus minoribus. _Capsula_.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CISTUS _incanus_ arborescens exstipulatus, foliis spatulatis tomentosis rugosis inferioribus basi connatis vaginantibus. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 497._

CISTUS mas angustifolius. _Bauh. Pin. 464._

Few plants are more admired than the Cistus tribe; they have indeed one imperfection, their petals soon fall off: this however is the less to be regretted, as they in general have a great profusion of flower-buds, whence their loss is daily supplied. They are, for the most part, inhabitants of warm climates, and affect dry, sheltered, though not shady, situations.

The present species is a native of Spain, and the south of France, and being liable to be killed by the severity of our winters, is generally kept with green-house plants.

It may be propagated either by seeds, or cuttings; the former make the best plants.

[44]

~Cyclamen persicum. Persian Cyclamen.~

_Class and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ rotata, reflexa, tubo brevissimo: fauce prominente. _Bacca_ tecta capsula.

_Specific Character._

CYCLAMEN _persicum_ foliis cordatis serratis. _Miller's Dict. 4to. ed. 6._

LINNAEUS in this, as in many other genera, certainly makes too few species, having only two; MILLER, on the contrary, is perhaps too profuse in his number, making eight. The ascertaining the precise limits of species, and variety, in plants that have been for a great length of time objects of culture, is often attended with difficulties scarcely to be surmounted, is indeed a Gordian Knot to Botanists.

Our plant is the _Cyclamen persicum_ of MILLER, and has been introduced into our gardens long since the European ones; being a native of the East-Indies, it is of course more tender than the others, and therefore requires to be treated more in the style of a green-house plant.

It is generally cultivated in pots, in light undunged earth, or in a mixture of loam and lime rubbish, and kept in frames, or on the front shelf of a green-house, where it may have plenty of air in the summer, but guarded against too much moisture in the winter.

May be raised from seeds in the same manner as the round-leaved Cyclamen already figured in this work, p. n. 4.

Flowers early in the spring, and is admirably well adapted to decorate the parlour or study.

Varies with fragrant flowers, and the eye more or less red.

[45]

~Crocus vernus. Spring Crocus.~

_Class and Order_

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 6-partita, aequalis. _Stigmata_ convoluta.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CROCUS _vernus_ foliis latioribus margine patulo. _Jacq. Fl. Austr. Vol. 5. app. t. 36._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 83. var. sativ._

CROCUS vernus latifolius. _Bauh. Pin. 65, 66._

The Yellow Crocus. _Parkins. Parad. p. 166._

LINNAEUS considers the Crocus, or Saffron of the shops, which blows invariably in the autumn, and the spring Crocus, with its numerous varieties (of which PARKINSON, in his Garden of Pleasant Flowers, enumerates no less than twenty-seven) as one and the same species; other Botanists have considered them as distinct, particularly PROF. JACQUIN, whose opinion on this subject we deem the most decisive.

We have figured the yellow variety, which is the one most commonly cultivated in our gardens, though according to the description in the _Flora Austriaca_, the _Crocus vernus_, in its wild state, is usually purple or white.

The cultivation of this plant is attended with no difficulty; in a light sandy loam, and dry situation, the roots thrive, and multiply so much as to require frequent reducing; they usually flower about the beginning of March, and whether planted in rows, or patches, on the borders of the flower-garden, or mixed indiscriminately with the herbage of the lawn, when expanded by the warmth of the sun, they produce a most brilliant and exhilirating effect.

The most mischievous of all our common birds, the sparrow, is very apt to commit great depredations amongst them when in flower, to the no small mortification of those who delight in their culture; we have succeeded in keeping these birds off, by placing near the object to be preserved, the skin of a cat properly stuffed: a live cat, or some bird of the hawk kind confined in a cage, might perhaps answer the purpose more effectually, at least in point of duration.

[46]

~Leucojum vernum. Spring Snow-Flake.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campaniformis, 6-partita, apicibus incrassata, _Stigma_ simplex.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

LEUCOJUM _vernum_ spatha uniflora, stylo clavato. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 316._

LEUCOJUM bulbosum vulgare. _Bauh. Pin. 55._

The great early bulbous Violet. _Park. Parad._

The blossoms of the _Leucojum_ and _Galanthus_, or Snow-Drop, are very similar at first sight, but differ very essentially when examined; the Snow-Drop having, according to the Linnaean description, a three-leaved nectary, which is wanting in the Leucojum; the two genera then being very distinct, it becomes necessary to give them different names; we have accordingly bestowed on the Leucojum the name of _Snow-Flake_, which, while it denotes its affinity to the Snow-Drop, is not inapplicable to the meaning of Leucojum.

As the spring Snow-Flake does not increase so fast by its roots, as the Snow-Drop, or even the summer Snow-Flake, so it is become much scarcer in our gardens; it may, indeed, be almost considered as one of our plantae rariores, though at the same time a very desirable one.

It does not flower so soon by almost a month, as the Snow-Drop; but its blossoms, which are usually one on each foot-stalk, sometimes two, are much larger, and delightfully fragrant.

It is found wild in shady places and moist woods in many parts of Germany and Italy. The most proper situation for it is a north or east border, soil a mixture of loam and bog earth; but by having it in different aspects, this, as well as other plants, may have its flowering forwarded or protracted, and, consequently, the pleasure of seeing them in blossom, considerably lengthened.

In a favourable soil and situation, it propagates tolerably fast by offsets.

[47]

~Amaryllis formosissima. Jacobaean Amaryllis.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ 6-petala, campanulata. _Stigma_ trifidum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

AMARYLLIS _formosissima_ spatha uniflora, corolla inaequali petalis tribus, staminibus pistilloque declinatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 320._

LILIO-NARCISSUS jacobaeus, flore sanguineo nutante, _Dillen. elth. 195. t. 162. f. 196._

The Indian Daffodil with a red flower. _Park. Par. 71. f. 3._

A native of South-America: according to LINNAEUS, first known in Europe in 1593, figured by PARKINSON in 1629, and placed by him among the Daffodils; stoves and green-houses were then unknown, no wonder therefore it did not thrive long.

"Is now become pretty common in the curious gardens in England, and known by the name of Jacobaea Lily; the roots send forth plenty of offsets, especially when they are kept in a moderate warmth in winter; for the roots of this kind will live in a good green-house, or may be preserved through the winter under a common hot-bed frame; but then they will not flower so often, nor send out so many offsets as when they are placed in a moderate stove in winter. This sort will produce its flowers two or three times in a year, and is not regular to any season; but from March to the beginning of September, the flowers will be produced, when the roots are in vigour.

"It is propagated by offsets, which may be taken off every year; the best time to shift and part these roots is in August, that they may take good root before winter; in doing of this, there should be care taken not to break off the fibres from their roots. They should be planted in pots of a middling size, filled with light kitchen-garden earth; and, if they are kept in a moderate degree of warmth, they will produce their flowers in plenty, and the roots will make great increase." _Miller's Gard. Dict._

[48]

~Narcissus triandrus. Reflexed Daffodil.~

_Class and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ sex, aequalia. _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo, _Stamina_ intra nectarium.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

NARCISSUS _triandrus_ spatha sub-biflora, floribus cernuis, petalis reflexis, staminibus tribus longioribus.

NARCISSUS _triandrus_ spatha sub-uniflora, nectario campanulato crenato dimidio petalis breviore, staminibus ternis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 317._

NARCISSUS juncifolius, albo flore reflexo. _Clus. app. alt._

The yellow turning Junquilia, or Rush Daffodil. _Parkins. Parad. 93. fig. 2, 3._