92 



M AT 



THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



MAT 



rich earth, and then piunged into the hot-bed in the bark- 

 stove ; where they should be allowed room, because they put 

 out many side-branches, and will grow three feet high or 

 more, according to the warmth of the bed. 



3. Martynia Diandra ; Tivo-stamined Martynia. Branches 

 dichototnous ; leaves cordate-orbicular, toothod; flowers two- 

 stamined. This is a large handsome plant, two feet high ; 

 stem single, round, reddish-green ; corolla inferior, five times 

 the length of the calix ; tube white, tinged with purple, and 

 spotted red and yellow. Miller says, the corolla is shaped 

 like the Fox-glove, but of a paler purple-colour. The flowers 

 at the divisions of the branches may be brought forward in 

 July ; those at the extremities come afterwards: so that there 

 is a succession of flowers on the same plant till October, 

 when the plants decay. This has been much confounded 

 with the fifth species. Native of La Vera Crux, in New 

 Spain. See the preceding species. 



4. Martynia Craniolaria; White-flowered Martynia. 

 Branches dichotomous ; leaves half five-lobed ; calix with a 

 one-leafed spathe. See Craniolaria, which is the same plant. 



5. Martynia Proboscidea ; Hairy Martynia. Stem branch- 

 ed ; leaves quite entire, cordate ; sinuses dilated. This is a 

 large plant, two feet high, flexuose, herbaceous, villose, vis- 

 cid; root-leaves none. It flowers from June to August. 

 Native of America. 



6. Martynia Fruticosa; Shrubby Martynia. Shrubby: 

 leaves lanceolate-serrate, toothed ; upper lip of the corolla 

 with numerous curled segments. This plant belongs to the 

 genus Gesneria ; which see. 



Marvel of Peru. See Mirabilis. 



Massonia ; a genus of the class Hexandria, order Mono- 

 gynia. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: none. Corolla: 

 petals six, lanceolate, spreading, upright, placed externally 

 on the nectary; which is inferior, cylindrical, membranaceous, 

 six-streaked, six-toothed. Stamina: six, filiform, incurved, 

 a little longer than the petals, inserted into the teeth of the 

 nectary; antherse ovate, upright, yellow. Pistil: germen 

 superior (in respect of the nectary) ; style awl-shaped, de- 

 clining, the length of the stamina; stigma simple, acute. 

 Pericarp: capsule three-sided, thickening above, obtuse, 

 smooth, three-celled, three-valved, opening longitudinally at 

 the corners. Seeds: very many, angular, globular, smooth. 

 ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Corolla: inferior, with a six- 

 parted border; filamentum on the neck of the tube. Capsule: 



three-winged, three-celled, many-seeded. The species, 



(which are all propagated like Htemanthus,) are, 



1 . Massonia Latifolia ; Broad-leaved Massonia. Leaves 

 roundish, smooth, spreading; segments of the corolla spread- 

 ing. Native of the Cape. 



2. Massonia Angustifolia; Narrow-leaved Massonia. Leaves 

 lanceolate, smooth, upright; segments of the corolla reflex. 

 Native of the Cape. 



3. Massonia Undulata ; Wave-leaved Massonia. Leaves 

 lanceolate, waved, smooth. Native of the Cape. 



4 Massonia Echinata; Rough-leaved Massonia. Leaves 

 ovate, muricated, hairy. Native of the Cape. 



There are four other species, Prickly-leaved, Shagreen- 

 leaved, Few-flowered, and Trumpet-flowered Massonia, all 

 natives of the Cape. 



Masterwort. See Astrantia and Imperatoria. 



Mastic Tree. See Pistacia Lentiscus. 



Mat, Garden ; a kind of coarse mat or covering formed of 

 bass, which is much used in gardening for sheltering various 

 sorts of plants in winter and spring, during cold and frosty 

 weather; and in summer, for shading many sorts of young or 

 tender kinds occasionally from the sun ; besides being used 



for many other purposes in the different garden compartments. 

 They are found to differ greatly in regard to size and sub- 

 stance, there being small, middling, and large sizes ; but for 

 general use, those called Russia mats are superior, both in 

 dimensions, substance, and durability. It may also be pro- 

 per to have some of the smaller or middling sizes for particular 

 occasions, and small gardens ; in which, for some purposes, 

 they may be more convenient than large ones. They were 

 sold formerly by most of the principal nursery and seedsmen 

 at from six to eight, twelve, or fifteen shillings the dozen, 

 according to size and strength; but for some years past the 

 prices have been much higher. These mats also are of 

 essential use in all hot-bed works, for covering or spreading 

 over the lights or glasses of the frames in the nights, in winter 

 and spring, to exclude the external night cold; also occasion- 

 ally in the day-time, in very severe weather, and heavy falls 

 of snow or rain: and likewise for occasionally covering several 

 sorts of small young esculent plants, in the full ground, in 

 beds and borders, in these seasons; as young Lettuces, Cauli- 

 flowers, small salad herbs, early Radishes, &c. in the open 

 beds, and under frames and hand-glasses, to defend them 

 from cutting frosts, snow, and other inclement weather; and 

 sometimes in raising, transplanting, or pricking out small or 

 moderate portions of particular sorts of plants, both of the 

 hardy and tender kinds, whether of the esculent or annual 

 flowery kinds in the spring, on beds or borders of natural 

 earth, or in hot-beds without frames, by being arched over 

 with hoops or rods. They are likewise extremely useful in 

 spring and summer, in hot, dry, sunny weather, for shading 

 several sorts, both in seed-beds before and after the young 

 plants are come up, and in beds of pricked out small young 

 plants, to shade them from the sun till they take fresh root; 

 as also for shading the glasses of hot-beds occasionally, when 

 the sun is too powerful for particular sorts of plants in the 

 heat of the day, as in Cucumbers, Melons, and various other 

 kinds. For kitchen and other garden districts furnished with 

 wall trees, they are of great use in spring, to cover the seeds 

 of particular sorts when in blossom, and when the young fruit 

 is setting and advancing in its early growth, after the decay 

 and fall of the bloom ; by which assistance, in cold winters 

 and springs, when sharp frosts sometimes prevail, a tolerable 

 good crop is often saved, while in trees fully exposed the 

 whole is cut off by the severity of the weather. In the flower- 

 garden, and pleasure-ground, they are also found useful on 

 different occasions : in the former, in sheltering beds of curi- 

 ous sorts of choice flower plants, both in their advancing 

 growth, and to protect them from cold in winter and spring; 

 and when in full bloom, to shade and screen the flowers from, 

 sun and rain, to preserve their beauty more effectually, and 

 to continue them longer in blow of a fine lively appearance, 

 as well as to cover beds, &c. in raising various tender annual 

 plants from^seed in the spring: and in the latter, occasionally 

 in winter to defend some kinds of curious evergreens, &c. 

 such as some of the Magnolias, broad-leaved Myrtle, Olive, 

 Tea-tree, &c. when standing detached, and trained against 

 walls and other places. And, besides, in nurseries they are 

 ot considerable utility in the propagation and culture of 

 numerous sorts of tender exotics ; in defending them from 

 cold, and shading from scorching sun, while they are in their 

 minor growth, &c. They are necessary also in tying round 

 bundles or baskets of tender or curious plants, when conveyed 

 to a distance. They are also occasionally of great use, in 

 severe winters, on such glass-works as green-houses, hot- 

 houses, forcVig-frames, &c. in covering the glasses alternately 

 in the nights, and occasionally in the day-time. In using 

 them when the seeds are open or loose, they should be secured 



