THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN MUHLENBECKIA. 689 



robust, about 3 ft. high, the deep red 

 flowers, borne in head-like whorls, con- 

 tinuing a long time in summer. M. Kal- 

 miana is a showy plant, often 4 ft. high, 

 the deep crimson flowers in dense whorls. 

 To see the true effect of this fine plant it 

 must be planted in liberal numbers. 

 Some of the kinds are poor in effect and 

 should be avoided. In M. purpurea the 

 deep purplish-crimson flowers are smaller. 

 All are natives of N. America, and maybe 

 increased by division in spring or by seed. 



MONTAGBLEA HERACLEIFOLIA 

 (Polymnia grandis}. A handsome, half- 

 hardy shrub with large, much divided, 

 and elegantly-lobed leaves, about 3 ft. 

 long, presenting luxuriant masses of foli- 

 age. The stem and leaf-stalks are spotted 

 with white, and the leaves when young 

 are covered with a soft white down. Like 

 most large soft-growing things in this 

 way, it is best planted out in a young- 

 state, so as to ensure a fresh and unstinted 

 growth. Easily multiplied from cuttings, 

 which plants freely produce if placed in 

 heat in January, but it is only useful 

 where sub-tropical plants are put out for 

 the fine months in sheltered dells. 



Montbretia. See TRITONIA. 



MOEINA ( Whorl-flower^. M. longi- 

 folia is a handsome and singular perennial, 

 with large spiny leaves, resembling those 

 of certain Thistles, and with long spikes of 

 whorled flowers, 2 to 3 ft. high. It grows 

 well in ordinary well-drained soil, but pre- 

 fers soil which is mellow, deep, and moist ; 

 and it is easily multiplied by sowing the 

 seed as soon as ripe in light sandy soil. 

 It is excellent for the mixed border, and 

 for grouping with medium-sized perennials 

 that have fine foliage. M. Wallichiana is 

 probably the same, or a slight variety, 

 and there are other kinds, the one named 

 being of proved value and hardiness. 

 Nepaul. Seed. 



MORISIA. M. hypogaa is one of the 

 most charming re-introductions of recent 

 years among alpine flowers. It was first 

 introduced by a Mrs. Palliser, from the 

 Valentino Botanic Garden, Turin, from 

 seeds presented to her by Professor Moris, 

 who found the plant on the mountains of 

 Sardinia, and in whose honour it is named. 

 The flowers, as large as a shilling and 

 of a bright yellow, are on short stalks 

 rising very little above the tufted foliage, 

 in April and May, and the contrast be- 

 tween them and the dark glossy foliage 

 is effective. It seems to do best in a light 

 gritty soil, and the seed should be sown 

 directly it is ripe. D. K. 



MORUS(^/tt/A?r>7). Usuallymedium- 

 sized trees of the temperate and sub- 



tropical countries, of which the best kind 

 for our country is the Black Mulberry (M. 

 nigra\ a distinct tree of great value and 

 beauty giving showers of fruit in hot 

 days, and having the charm of association 

 with old gardens in southern and western 

 countries where it was often grown. The 

 Mulberry often attains great age, and 

 when old gives deep shade, thriving 

 best always in sheltered gardens in deep 

 soils. It is hardy, coming late in leaf, 

 and the leaves fall with the first touch 

 of the frost. It grows better in the warm 

 southern counties than in the cooler North, 

 where the shelter of walls is needed if we 

 wish for the fruit. The Mulberry is often a 

 beautiful lawn tree though it may well take 

 its place in the orchard or enclosed fruit 

 garden, always, if possible, giving it a free, 

 deep and rather moist soil. It is one of 

 those trees cultivated from the earliest 

 times, much longer than we have any 

 idea of, and therefore spread all through 

 the East, so that there is little certainty as 

 to its native country probably Persia and 

 the adjacent regions. 



It is not difficult to increase from 

 cuttings or even pieces of branches, and 

 by layers, but not by any means common 

 to find good stocks of the trees in 

 nurseries, owing partly to the slight 

 demand, as in gardening waves of fashion 

 often call attention for long periods to 

 things of little value, and people cease 

 to plant the good ones. A very much 

 more cultivated species in Europe and 

 other countries is the White Mulberry 

 (M. alba) and its varieties, but as our 

 country is too cold for silk cultivation 

 this is of slight importance with us, 

 and the same may be said of the other 

 species, the one exception being, perhaps, 

 the American Red Mulberry (M. rubra\ 

 a native of the northern United States, 

 and this might find a place in tree 

 collections. 



MUHLENBECKIA. These graceful 

 free-growing evergreen trailers are useful 

 as coverings for trellis-work or rocks or 

 stumps. The kinds in cultivation are 

 natives of New Zealand ; the best known 

 M. complexa, a very rapid grower, with 

 long wiry and entangled branches, and 

 small leaves. The white waxy flowers 

 are rather inconspicuous. M. adpressa is 

 larger and has heart-shaped leaves, and 

 long racemes of whitish flowers. M. 

 varia is a small kind, with fiddle-shaped 

 leaves, and is very distinct from either of 

 the above. In severe winters it is advis- 

 able to give a little protection like dried 

 Fern, but this is not necessary in ordinary 

 seasons. Cuttings. 



Y Y 



