AFRICAN MARYGOLD. 391 



AFRICAN MARYGOLD. Tagetes Erecta. 

 FRENCH MARYGOLD. Tagetes Patula. 



Natural Order Composites Oppositifolia, CorymbifercBy 

 Juss : a Genus of the Syngeneda Polygamia Super ^ 

 flua Class. 



*' As wands of divination downward draw. 

 And point to beds where sov'reign gold doth g"row." 



Dryden. 



The generic name of these Mexican flowers is 

 said to have been derived from Tages, a grand- 

 son of Jupiter, who first taught the science of 

 augury and divination, to the twelve nations of 

 the Etrurians, who from hence became so cele- 

 brated for their pretended knowledge of omens 

 and incantations, But as Tages could not have 

 taught the use of plants peculiar to lands which 

 the gods themselves had not visited, we think the 

 name badly adapted, unless the Spaniards pre- 

 tend that they were instructed through the arts of 

 Tages to seek for the precious metal in fields 

 covered with these golden flowers, and this will 

 be as readily believed as that the species called 

 French Marygolds became first stained and 



