GARDEN FLOWERS. 25/ 



ot M. cardhialis and roseiis on the other ; and little trace of 

 the originals now remains. These races are fugitive, the 

 varieties of to-day continually giving place to others of some 

 supposed superiorit}'. Rich loamy soil, or, indeed, ordinary 

 garden soil, if good, will grow them well ; but they like a 

 damp, cool, and somewhat shady situation in summer. A 

 supply should be kept in pots, protected in cold frames 

 through the winter. M. moschatus is a favorite pot-plant for 

 the window : it is quite hardy in sheltered situations, and 

 grows readily in pots of rich mould. The varieties are mul- 

 tiplied by division, and new varieties are obtained from 

 ^eeds, which, if sown in heat in March, and grown in frames, 

 will come into bloom in the course of the summer. Seeds 

 are freely produced. 



M. cardinalis (cardinal) ; half-hardy perennial ; 3 feet ; flowers 

 scarlet, in July ; California ; 1835. M- guitatiis{^'^o\.\.it(S.)\ hardy 

 perennial ; i foot ; flowers yellow-spotted, in June ; North Amer- 

 ica ; 18 1 2. il/. //rt;77J"<9«// (Harrison's) ; h a if-hardy perennial ; 3 

 feet ; flowers rose, in June ; garden variety. J/, hitciis (yellow) ; 

 hardy perennial ; 18 inches ; flowers yellow, in June ; Chili ; 1826. 

 M. McLaiiiii (McLain's) ; half-hardy perennial ; 3 feet ; flowers 

 rose-crimson, in June ; garden variety. M. inoschatJts (musk) ; 

 hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers yellow, in June ; Columbia ; 

 1826. M. roseus (rose) ; half-hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers 

 rose, in June; California; 1831. M. tricolor (three-colored); 

 half-hardy annual ; 9 inches ; flowers pink, with yellow and 

 crimson spots, in June ; California ; 1848. M. variegatus (varie- 

 gated) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flowers white and purple, in 

 June; Chili; 1831. The garden varieties are of two classes: 

 I, with rosy-colored flowers, and a branching habit, from M. ro- 

 seus and cardinalis ; 2, dwarfer, and more herbaceous, with yel- 

 low flowers, variously blotched with rich brown-red, from M. gut- 

 tatus and hitetis. 



Mint. See Mextha. 



MiRABiLis. Marvel of Peru. [Nyctaginaceae.J Showy 

 17 



