290 



The general habit of the plant when left to itself, is weak 

 and trailing. It is, therefore, a very pretty plant for a 

 hanging vase. The shoots will push rapidly, and hanging 

 gracefully down the sides with its numerous yellow flow- 

 ers, presents a very pleasing appearance, perfuming the 

 air to a considerable distance. 



All the varieties and species require the same care in 

 cultivation as has been described; always remembering 

 that in our climate the mid-summer's sun is most too pow- 

 erful for them if fully exposed to its influence. A situa- 

 tion, therefore, should be selected where the plants will 

 have sun only in the morning a few hours, and in the af- 

 ternoon the same. 



MIRABILIS, MARVEL OP PERU 



[Latin word, signifying wonderful.] 



Mirabilis Jalapa, or common Four-o'clock of the gar- 

 dens, is a very ornamental plant for borders. When cul- 

 tivated it sports into many agreeable varieties. It is con- 

 sidered and treated as a tender annual. It may, how- 

 ever be planted the last of April, and bears a profusion 

 of flowers in August and September. Although treated 

 as an annual, it is, in its native country, a perennial, with 

 the rest of the genus. Its large tuberous roots, which, if 

 taken up and preserved during winter, like the Dahlia, will 

 flower perennially. The flowers are red in its native 

 country, the West Indies ; but in the garden are to be 

 found white, yellow, various shades of red, and variegat- 

 ed, in the same flower. Stem from two to three feet high. 



M. longifldra, like the last, is handsome and fragrant. 

 The flowers are pure white, with purple below, standing 

 on long tubes; in July and August. This species is not 

 so common as M. Jalapa. The hybridization of these 

 two species has brought forth new varieties most remark- 



