GARDEN FLOWERS. 257 



of M. cardinalis and roseus 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 superiority. 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 

 seeds, 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. guttafus (spotted) ; hardy 

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

 ica ; 1812. M. Harrisonii (Harrison's) ; half-hardy perennial ; 3 

 feet ; flowers rose, in June ; garden variety. M. luteus (yellow) ; 

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

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

 rose-crimson, in June ; garden variety. M. moschatus (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(va.r'\Q- 

 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 E. ro- 

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

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

 tatus, and luteus. 



MINT. See MENTHA. 



MIRABILIS. Marvel of Peru. [Nyctaginaceae.J Showy 

 17 



