196 glenny's handbook 



sandy loam, well drained. Increased by seeds, cuttings, or 

 division. M. macrorhlziau, flowers pale blue. 



MULLEIN. See Verbascum. 



MURALTIA. [Polygalaceae.] Pretty greenhouse ever- 

 green shrubs of furze-like character, requiring the same 

 treatment as Polygalas, to which they are related. Soil, 

 sandy peat, with one-third loam. Increased by cuttings in 

 sand under bell-glasses. M. Heisteria is scarcely ever out of 

 flower under good management, though the flowers are in- 

 dividually small. 



MUSA. Plantain Tree. [Musaceae.] This genus in- 

 cludes the Banana {M. sapientum) and Plantain (Ji. p^iradi- 

 siaca), which some botanists have considered as mere varieties. 

 There are several species introduced, but the most interesting 

 are 3/. Cavendish'ii, a dwarf kind that may be easily culti- 

 vated for its fruit; M. coccinea, a small kind, ornamental, 

 from the scarlet colour of its erect bracts ; and M. omata, 

 also of moderate growth, bearing an ornamental drooping 

 raceme of orange flowers, with light pui^ple bracts. The rest 

 are mostly veiy large growers, requiring more room than can 

 be generally afforded them. The M. Cavendishii bears at 

 the height of six feet, while some of the others do not flower 

 under double or treble that height. The soil they grow 

 best in consists of two-thirds rich loam from rotted turves, 

 and one-third decomposed dung. They must be placed in 

 a warm part of the stove. They are propagated by suckers, 

 which should be taken off" carefully before they are much 

 advanced, and potted in pots that will only just hold them : 

 they require to be changed from time to time as they 

 advance until they bloom and bear fruit. 



MUSCAPJ. Grape Hyacinth. [Liliacege.] Dwarf 

 hardy bulbs, which multiply so readily by means of offsets 

 that they are in some cases troublesome to extirpate when 

 once introduced, owing to their numerous minute progeny. 

 The bulbs should remain in the soil from year to year, not 

 taken up and dried ; but eveiy third or fourth they may be 

 taken up and replanted in September, or early in October, 

 before they begin to grow. Common garden soil ; but a 

 sandy loam is most congenial to these, as to all other bulbs. 



MUSK PLANT. See Mimulls MOiCHAius. 



