Commercial Gardening 



September; and L. punctata (or verticillata), a bushy plant with yellow 

 flowers. 



Malope trifida. A showy Spanish hardy or half-hardy annual, 1-3 ft. 

 high, with three - lobed mallow - like leaves and large crimson flowers. 

 There are several varieties, including a white one, but the best is grandi- 

 ftora, which has crimson flowers with red and white variations. 



Marigold. The common Marigold is already dealt with under the 

 name of Calendula officinalis (which see). The French Marigold (Tagetes 

 patula) in numerous varieties grows from 6-12 in. high, has finely divided 



leaves, and flower heads of 

 golden brown, yellow, orange, 

 &c., in various shades, many 

 being beautifully striped and 

 mottled. The nana or " Pigmy " 

 strain is valuable for edgings. 



The African Marigold (Ta- 

 getes erecta) grows 2 ft. or more 

 high, has lance-shaped leaves 

 deeply cut in on both sides, and 

 produces large heads of beau- 

 tiful soft -yellow, lemon, and 

 orange flowers. 



Both the French and African 

 Marigolds are half-hardy an- 

 nuals, easily raised from seeds 

 sown in gentle heat in Febru- 

 ary or March. The young 

 plants are pricked off into 

 shallow boxes, or singly into 

 small pots, and sell readily for 

 bedding out in April, May, and June (fig. 225). 



Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa). This tuberous-rooted Peruvian 

 perennial is usually treated as a half-hardy annual. It grows 2-4 ft.- high, 

 and has large, smooth, oval, pointed leaves, and late in summer masses, of 

 long-tubed funnel-shaped flowers, red, white, or yellow in colour, some 

 being blotched or striped with other shades. Other species are longiflora, 

 white, pink, or violet, with long tubes; and muUiftora, bright purple. There 

 are also varieties having variegated leaves, and a dwarf or Tom Thumb 

 strain. 



Matricaria inodora. The double-flowered form (flore pleno) of this 

 British annual or biennial is the best for market work, the flowers being 

 useful for " cut " during the summer months. They are white, rounded, 

 with a yellowish centre, and remind one of the flower heads of Pyrethrum 

 (or Chrysanthemum) Parthenium (which see). Notwithstanding the 

 name " inodora " the plants have a peculiar scent which is rather against 

 them. The double -flowered form is best propagated from cuttings in 



Fig. 225. French and African Marigolds 



