TAGETES. 211 



Silene armeria. Lobel's Catch-fly. A very hardy annual, 

 with dense umbels of pink, and another variety with white 

 flowers, from June to October ; one and a half foot high. 



Silene compacta. Compact-flowered. Another beautiful 

 species similar to the last, except the flowers are more crowded 

 in the umbel. 



Silene pendula. Pendulous-flowered. A dwarf, bushy 

 habit ; pink flowers, from June to September. 



Having the plants once in the ground, there will always be 

 a plenty of self-sown seeds in the spring. 



TAGETES. 



Marigold. 



Tagetes patula. French Marigold. A well-known ten- 

 der annual ; one of the old-fashioned flowers ; deservedly 

 popular, from the brilliancy and variegation of its flowers. 



Some of the improved varieties are exceedingly beautiful, 

 particularly the fine variegated sorts, of a rich velvety brown 

 and yellow, distinctly striped or shaded with brown on yellow 

 ground. All the varieties of this and the following species are 

 prone to degenerate, even when the seed is saved from the 

 most perfect flowers ; great care must therefore be taken to pull 

 up every plant with single or inferior flowers as soon as it 

 appears. 



Tagetes erecta. African Marigold. The large double 

 varieties of this species are very rich. The colors from a pale 

 citron-yellow to deep orange. 



There are also varieties intermediate between T. patula and 

 this species, which are also very fine. The seed may be sown 

 any time in May. The plants should be transplanted, when 

 large enough, into patches of five or six plants each; all inferior 

 sorts should be pulled up as soon as the flowers appear ; one plant 

 being sufficient for one place, which, if tied up to a stick and 



