the Tuberose: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the hexandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 10th order, Coronarie. The corolla is funnel-shaped, incurved, and equal; the filaments are inserted into the throat of the corolla; in the bottom of which the germ is situated. There is but one species, consisting of some varieties; all of which being exotics of tender quality, require aid of artificial heat, under shelter of frames and glasses, &c. to bring them to flower in perfection in this country. The polianthes, or tuberoles, hath an oblong, bulb-like, tuberous, white root; crowned with a few long very narrow leaves; amidst them an upright, straight, firm stem, three or four feet high, terminated by a long spike of large white flowers arranged alternately. The varieties are the common tuberoles. Polianthes, tuberosa, with single flowers,—double-flowered,—dwarf-stalked,—variegated-leaved. They all flower here in June, July, and August; the flowers are funnel or bell-shaped; garnish the upper part of the stem in a long spike, consisting of from 10 to 20 or more separate in alternate arrangements, the lower flowers opening first, which are succeeded by those above, in regular order, making in the whole a most beautiful appearance, highly enriched with a most fragrant odour. The common single-flowered tuberose is the sort the most commonly cultivated, as it generally blows the most freely, and possesses the finest fragrance. The double-flowered kind also highly merits culture, as when it blows fair it makes a singularly fine appearance. The dwarf and variegated kinds are inferior to the other two, but may be cultivated for variety.

All the varieties being exotics from warm countries, although they are made to flower in great perfection in our gardens by affluence of hot-beds, they will not prosper in the open ground, and do not increase freely in England; so that a supply of the roots is imported hither annually from Genoa, and other parts of Italy, by most of the eminent nurseries and seedsmen, and the Italian warehouse-keepers; generally arriving in February or March, time enough for the ensuing summer's bloom; and are sold commonly at the rate of twelve or fifteen shillings per hundred, being careful always to procure as large roots as possible, for on this depends the success of having a complete blow. They, requiring artificial heat to blow them in this country, are planted in pots, and plunged in a hot-bed, under a deep frame furnished with glass lights; or placed in a hot-house, where they may be blowed to great perfection with little trouble. The principal season for planting them is March and April; observing, however, that in order to continue a long succession of the bloom, it is proper to make two or three different plantings, at about a month interval; one in March, another in April, and a third the beginning of May, whereby the blow may be continued from June until September; observing, as above-mentioned, they may be flowered either by aid of a common dung or bark hot-bed, or in a hot-house.

With respect to the propagation of these plants, it is principally by offsets of the roots. The blowing roots that are brought annually from abroad for sale are often furnished with offsets, which ought to be separated previous to planting. Those also that are planted here in our gardens frequently furnish offsets fit for separation in autumn when the leaves decay; they must then be preserved in sand all winter in a dry sheltered place; and in the beginning of March, plant them either in a bed of light dry earth in the full ground; or, to forward them as much as possible, allow them a moderate hot-bed; and in either method indulge them with a shelter in cold weather, either of a frame and lights, or arched with hoops and occasionally matted; but let them enjoy the full air in all mild weather, giving also plenty of water in dry weather during the season of their growth in spring and summer. Thus let them grow till their leaves again decay in autumn; then take them up, clean them from earth, and lay them in sand till spring; at which time such roots as are large enough to blow may be planted and managed as already directed, and the smaller roots planted again in a nursery-bed, to have another year's growth; afterwards plant them for flowering. The Egyptians put Polianthe the flowers of tuberose into sweet oil; and by this means give it a most excellent flavour, scarce inferior to oil of jasmine.