DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 277 



more delicate in its habits. Both of the varieties are Let- 

 ter grown in the green-house, but are perfectly hardy. 

 The plant blooms more profusely in a good loamy soil, 

 mixed with a little manure or leaf-mould. If the soil be 

 very rich, the plant will be liable to grow too vigorously, 

 and produce a vast profusion of foliage, which will rather 

 conceal the flowers ; but, if moderately enriched, it will 

 produce one mass of bloom. I find it profitable to give 

 all my flower-beds an addition of fresh soil every winter, 

 generally adding about two or three mches deep. If the 

 Malope grandiflora is not desired to come into bloom he- 

 fore the begi?inmg of August, the seed may be sown in 

 April or May, in the open border where it is desired that 

 the plants shall blossom. The plant produces seed in 

 abundance, which ripen well from plants that bloom early 

 in the summer. 



MALVA.— Mallows. 



[An old Latin name from the Greek, for soft.J 



Malva alcea. — A pretty, hardy perennial, from Ger- 

 many, with purple flowers from July to October ; three 

 feet high ; easily propagated by seed or divisions of the 

 roots. 



Varieties of the same, have pink and white flowers ; 

 lower leaves angular ; upper, five-parted, cut ; stems and 

 calyxes velvety. 



Mt crispa. — The Syrian or Curled Mallow. — Has white 

 flowers, veined, with red or purple, with elegant curled 

 leaves ; annual ; flowers in June, July, and August. 



A species of Mallow Avas used among the Romans as an 

 esculent vegetable. Horace mentions it as one of his or- 

 dinary dishes. 



"Olives, succory, and white Mallows are tny food." 



Job speaks of them as being eaten in times of famine : 



