TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 183 



pyramids if a shoot or two are supported in an erect position 

 in the centre, and the laterals treated in the manner de- 

 scribed. They should frequently be renewed from cuttings, 

 as a large plant can be obtained in a single season, and young 

 healthy plants are always the most vigorous. Their spirally- 

 folded blossoms are very curious. 



MAHONIA. See Berberis. 



MAIDEN-HAIR FERN. See Adtantum. 



MAIDEN-HAIR TREE. See Saijsburia. 



MALCOMIA. [Cruciferas.] Hardy annuals, of which 

 one species, M. maritima, the Virginian Stock, is a favourite 

 dwarf ornament for the flower-border, very easily grown, but 

 not durable : in good-sized patches it forms a showy mass of 

 simple flowers. If sown by the middle of March it will, in 

 favourable seasons, be in bloom early in May ; but to have a 

 good succession of flowers it ought to be sown monthly from 

 March to August. It is quite hai'dy, and forms a pretty 

 edging plant for large borders. The other species may be 

 similarly cultivated. The best are JI. maritima, M. litorea, 

 M. iucrassata, and M. arenaria. 



MALES HERBIA. [Malesherbiacese.] Curious and pretty 

 greenhouse shrubs and annuals. Soil, two parts peat to one 

 part loam and one of sand. The annuals are increased by 

 seeds sown in a warm frame in March, pricked off, potted, 

 and shifted as required, and transferred to the greenhouse 

 when established. The shrubby kinds may also be increased 

 by seeds, and by cuttings of the 3'oung shoots in sand in a 

 hotbed. M.fascicidata, flowers white, ill. linear if olia, lowers 

 blue. M. thyrsifiora, flowers yellow, 



MALOPE. [MalvaceaB.] Showy Mallow-like annuals of 

 very simple culture. The seeds may be sown in March, and 

 again in April, in the open border ; the plants to be thinned 

 out when large enough, leaving about three of the strongest 

 in a patch. To get plants to bloom earlier than usual they 

 may be sown in pots along with half-hardy annuals, and 

 planted out as early in May as the season will admit. 

 M. malacoides, flowers purple. M. irijida, flowers crimson. 

 Of this there is a varietj' with white flowers called alha, and 

 another with larger flowers called grandijiora. 



MALVA. Mallow. [Malvaceae.] A' large genus, of 



