Page 511 [511]
OCR
_xo———— GD HisToOoRic. GARDENS: OF! VIRGINA — a = — _—_ a = ae ee ——— ‘‘Bulbous roots to get when in my power: Meadow Saffron (see Colchium) a bulbous root about the size of a Tulip, flowers in Autumn, and the leaves continue green all the winter; called by the common people, Naked Ladies. Great varieties may be obtained from seed.”’ ‘Purple cupped Statices or Thrift; dried, it retains its colour, which renders it ornamental for a Mantelpiece in winter. A Biennial, yet often increased by parting its roots, but more advantageously from Seeds.”’ Of the Iris she lists at least nine varieties: ‘‘Bulbous Flag Iris, red flower; Dwarf Flag; Large Flag, or Flower de Luce; Evergreen Purple; Common Blue; Persian; Florentine White, and Corn Flag." Amongst the Wild Flowers she mentions eight varieties of “Solomon’s Seal, or Convollaria Polygonatum.” Also, “Claytonia, little narrow leafed Black rooted flower from the foot of the garden’’; ‘Ixia Bermudiana, with an Iris Leaf, perhaps the Blackberry Lily in the garden’’; OL luriiin American Retmic, what was sent me by the name of Holy Oak, 4th sort. 6th sort, Indian Retmic, I expect is the flower Helen found at the Spring. Medeota Lily, or Little Martagon, perhaps what we got by the branch at Elm Hill, with the Whorled leaves." Orange, lemon, lime, oleander and dwarf myrtle are listed with others under the head of “House Plants.” A ‘‘Memo: respecting raising Trees’ gives methods of propagation, from seeds and from scions, of the poplar, mulberry, cedar and holly. ‘he directions for the latter, when raised from seeds, ends with the patient announcement “They will be large enough to plant out in four years" ! Of Fruit Trees, there is a lengthy and most tempting list, each item of which, where a gift is followed by the name of the donor: [312]
