372 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
MINA. Referred, by Bentham and Hooker, to 
Ipomea. 
MINT (Mentha). There are three species of Mint, all 
hardy perennials, cultivated more or less in gardens, for 
the use of their tops or leaves in the preparation of 
sauces, or for other culinary purposes. They are popu- 
larly known as Pennyroyal (M. Pulegiwm) ; Peppermint 
(M. piperita); and Spearmint (M. viridis). 
Pennyroyal is least used of the three. It is readily 
propagated by division of the roots, in autumn or spring, 
and succeeds best in a moist, loamy soil. When trans- 
planting, a space of 1ft. should be allowed between the 
rows, and half that distance between the plants. 
Peppermint is grown chiefly for the use of its tops 
for distillation, to obtain the valuable cordial well known 
by the same name. Propagation may easily be effected by 
lifting the roots, in February or March, dividing them, 
and planting again in shallow trenches about 9in. apart, 
covering with 2in. of soil. Cuttings in summer, or 
offsets in spring, may also be utilised for increasing a 
stock. A moist situation is preferable, but Peppermint 
will succeed in almost any soil when once started into 
growth. The tops should be cut off just as they are 
coming into flower, and distilled as soon as possible 
afterwards. The beds are much benefited by an annual 
topdressing of good soil. - 
Spearmint is most largely in request, particularly in 
spring and early summer. A good stock should be kept 
up, so that plenty may be available for foreing. The 
propagation and cultivation are the same as given above 
for Peppermint. A portion of the tops should be cut 
when coming into flower, and suspended in a cool shed 
for winter use. Green leaves are always preferable to 
dry ones, and foreing is very easy, the only preparation 
being the insertion of a quantity of roots in a box of 
soil, which should be placed in a temperature of about 
60deg., and kept watered. Forcing will generally be 
necessary from November to May, a succession being 
kept up by the introduction, at intervals, of an addi- 
tional supply of roots, 
S$ 
BRANCH OF MIRABILIS JALAPA. 
| mirabilis, wonderful). Marvel 
Nyctago. ORD. Nyctagineæ. 
Mirabilis—continued. 
A genus comprising about ten species of very ornamental 
greenhouse or hardy di-trichotomously branched, glabrous 
or glandular-pubescent, perennial herbs, confined to the 
warmer parts of America. Flowers white, scarlet, or 
various-coloured, large, fragrant or inodorons; involucres 
one to many-flowered, in often densely-branched cymes; 
perianth tube elongated, constricted above the ovary. 
Leaves opposite, lower ones petiolate, upper ones sessile. 
Root elongated or tuberous. The species most generally 
grown is M. Jalapa, This thrives very well in almost 
any ordinary garden soil, but does best in a good friable 
loam. It is really perennial, but is usually treated as a 
half-hardy annual, by sowing seeds, in a warm frame, 
during the early spring, and planting the seedlings out 
in the open in May. The other species mentioned prove 
hardy in the South of England, and require similar 
treatment. 
M. dichotoma (twice -forked). fl. yellow, expanding in the 
afternoon. July. l. ovate, sub-acuminate, obtuse at base. h. 2ft. 
Mexico, 1640. Greenhouse. 
M. Jalapa (jalap).* Common Marvel of Peru. f. very variable, 
white, yellow, crimson, or striped or blotched with two or more 
of these colours, fragrant. Summer. J. large, entire, smooth. 
h. 2ft. Mexico and Central America, 1595. Generally treated 
as a half-hardy annual, but the tuberous roots can be taken 
up and stored like Dahlias. See Fig. 580. (B. M. 371.) 
ra (long-flowered). fl. varying in colour from white 
and pink to violet, long, tubular, fragrant, viscid. July. 
1 ` te, acuminate. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1759. Hardy. (S. E. 
M. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. bright purple, with a tube 
about ein. long, disposed in terminal panicles, each panicle in- 
closed in a cup-like involucre. 1. opposite, ovate. Mexico and 
California, 1876. A very beautiful toy plant, clothed with 
glandular pubescence. (B. M. 6266.) 
MIRBELIA (named after C. F. Mirbel, 1776-1854, 
a distinguished French physiological botanist). Including 
Dichosema and Oxycladium. ORD. Leguminose. This 
genus comprises about sixteen species of greenhouse 
shrubs, with the habit of Ozxylobiwm or of Chorizema, 
limited to Australia. Flowers yellow, purple-red, or blue, 
solitary, or clustered in the axils of the leaves, or in 
axillary or terminal racemes. Leaves opposite or whorled, 
rarely alternate, entire or broadly lobed at the top. 
The species here described are those best known to 
cultivation. For culture, see Chorizema. 
M. dilata (dilated). . purplish. May to A t. 2. cuneiform, 
dilated and trifidatthe apex. h. Skt 1808. (. R. 1041.) 
M. grandiflora (large. flowered). A. yellow, having a red zonate 
—.— — ai upper nd of = vexillum, and ier genera the 
ame on the outer surface, the wings having a red blotch on one 
side; axillary, twin. May. J. alternate, -lanceolate. h. lft. 
to ft. 1828. (BM. 277. 5 
M. reticulata (netted). fl. lilac, terminal, capitate, or axi , 
verticillate. May to August. 1. lanceolate linear, reticulately 
. M. 141 entire, ending in a stiff mucrone. h. lft. to oft. 1 
M. (showy). fl. purple, disposed in a terminal, inter- 
rupted, leafy spike. May to July. l linear, rather acute, with 
revolute, quite entire margins. k. lft. to 2ft. 1824. (B. R. 1841, 58.) 
MISCANTHUS (from miskos, a stem, and anthos, a 
flower; alluding to the tall stems). Orn. Graminee. 
genus comprising eight species of tall grasses, of which 
one is South African, and the rest inhabitants of Eastern 
Asia, from the Malayan Archipelago to Japan. Panicles 
large, with long silky hairs, or rarely almost 
3 branches spreading, simple or scarcely divided. 
ves narrow, often flat. Probably none of the species 
have yet been introduced to our gardens. 
MISTLETOE. See Viscum album. 
yMITCHELLA (named after Dr, John Mitchell, of 
urs mia, an early correspondent of Linnæus, and an 
excellent botanist; he died in 1768). Op. Rubiacee- 
genus comprising a couple of species of glabrous 
or puberulous creeping herbs, one dispersed through 
North America, from Mexico to Canada, and the other 
biting Japan. Flowers white, fragrant, axillary and 
l, ebracteate, small; calyx tube ovoid; limb three 
