Flora, seu, De florum cultura, or, A complete florilege, furnished with all requisites belonging to a florist by John Rea, Gent.

Mezerion.

DWarf Bay groweth in a thick bush full of branches, in some old Plants rising three or four foot high, covered with a tough bark, and set with small whitish round-pointed green leaves, which fall away in Autumn; the flowers are small, consisting of four leaves, growing thick and close together on the sides of the new Shoots, wherewith they are on all sides covered, which in one (the most common) are of a pale blush colour, in another white, and in a third of a deep Peach-colour almost red; these flowers are sweet, and may be smelled at distance; which being past, in their places come forth many small berries, which when they are ripe are of a red colour.

The double-flowered Cherry is in blossom in April, and the double-flowered Peach in March; the Cherry may be grafted in any other Cherry-stock, but the best way is to make choice of a stock that is big enough to hold two grafts, which may be grafted near the ground, the one graft of this, and the other of the Flanders Cluster-cherry, which growing up together, planted against a wall, the branches in∣termixed and nailed one within the other, so that after the double flowers of the one are past, the double fruits of the other may suc∣ceed, will be a wonder to those that do not understand by what means it is brought to pass, conceiving both to proceed from one kind. The double Peach will thrive best, and bring forth fairer flowers, being spread upon a wall, having been inoculated on an Apricock-stock.

The Balaustium bringeth forth its beautiful flowers towards the end of August; it is a tender Plant, and must be either set in Boxes that it may be housed in Winter, or else under a South wall where it may have the benefit of the Sun in Somer, and the roots about it co∣vered with Pease-straw or Litter to keep them warm from freezing in the Winter, and the branches also must be thatched with Broom, or some other provision, to defend them from nipping frosty air, which otherwise will cause them to die even to the ground, and many times never to spring again: but those that are desirous to preserve this and other tender Plants, and have a convenient house to remove them into in Winter, then this may be so handled, and not trusted abroad in the open air, for that the trouble of housing and preserving of a few, will be almost as great as that of many; and new Plants may be raised either from Suckers, which it is apt to yield, or by laying down the branches.

The double white Syringa, or Arabian Jasmine, brings forth its fair odorous flowers from the beginning of May untill the end of Sep∣tember; it is a great stranger in England, and very apt to leave us upon the least dislike; therefore those that desire to entertain so cu∣rious and nice a guest, must aford it warm lodging in the Winter, and diligent attendance in the Spring, when first it comes abroad, and then perhaps it may be complemented to an acceptance of our courser countrey fare.

The blue Syringa with a cut leaves, or Persian Jasmine, flowereth in April, and is as courteous as the other is curious, it will live abroad in the open air planted under a wall, and yield us increase by laying down the branches, or by cuttings, being apt to root and thrive if a little defended from Frosts in Winter.

The Oleaster flowereth in May, and is planted and increased in the same manner as the last mentioned, and endureth the Winter as well. I intend that described by Ferrarius, and not that kind common with us, which wanteth the properties said to belong to this noble Plant.

The Shrub-Mallows shew their flowers commonly in August, sometimes later; they are tender, and must be planted under a wall, and defended in Winter: the usual way to raise them is by laying down the branches in the Earth, and sometimes from the seeds gain∣ed out of hotter Countreys, for ours seldom bring any to perfection: they may be grafted the Aproach-way one upon another, so that from one root you may have all the forementioned varieties.

Tree Night-shade is a Plant well known, and chiefly respected for the beauty of the red berries, which will abide on the branches in Winter, at which time standing among Myrtles and other Greens, it maketh a fine shew: it is raised by sowing the seeds in March, which are apt to come up and grow, especially if they be sowed in a Pot of good Earth, and housed in the Winter.

The Shrub Night-shade is in flower toward the end of May, and increased by Layers.

The blossoms of the Mizerions begin to appear in the end of Ja∣nuary, and usually continue flowering untill the beginning of April; they are hardy, and will grow any where; the way to raise them is by sowing the berries as soon as they are ripe, which will be about the middle of July; they will lye long in the ground before they come up, therefore are usually sowed in some large Box filled with good Earth, and set in some place out of the way, where it will need no other attendance than onely weeding; the second Spring after the sowing, and not before, they will come up: they which have nigh stood a year or two, may be removed according to the pleasure of the owner.