MEGASEA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



MENTHA. 



66 3 



brownish pubescence. The unbranched 

 flower-stalk is about I ft. high, and bears 

 at its apex a single violet-purple blossom, 

 2 to 3 in. in diameter. 



M. Wallichi is the finest kind, and a 

 very handsome plant, between 4 and 5 ft. 

 high. It forms an erect pyramid, the 

 upper half of which is covered with pretty 

 pale blue blossoms, drooping gracefully 

 from slender branchlets. It is a most 

 conspicuous plant in the rock-garden, 

 where it withstands the winter without the 

 least injury. Well-grown specimens have 

 leaves 12 to 15 in. long, and a great 

 number of pale blue flowers, opening 

 terminally. Separate flowers do not last 

 long, but a few expand at a time, and it is 

 fully a month before they are all expanded 

 at the base, by which time the seeds 

 of those which opened first are nearly 

 ripe. 



Meconopsis species : Aculeata, Himalayas ; Cant- 

 brica, Europe ; heterophylla, California ; horridula, 

 Himalayas ; nepalensis, do. ; quintuplinerira, Man- 

 churia ; racemosa, China ; robusta, Himalaya ; siin- 

 plicifolza, do. ; Wallichii, do. 



Megasea. See SAXIFRAGA. 

 MELIANTHUS (Cape Honey Flower\ 



An effective half-hardy plant for the 

 summer ; M. major having finely-cut, 

 large, glaucous leaves contrasting effective- 

 ly with the garden vegetation, and being 

 of the easiest cultivation, it has become 

 a favourite in 

 sub-tropical gar- 

 dening. Plants 

 raised from seed 

 early in the sea- 

 son make good 

 growth by plant- 

 ing-out time,and 

 by midsummer 

 obtain a height 

 of 3 to 4 ft. 

 When it is desir- 

 able to have 

 larger plants by 



Melianthus major. planting-OUt 



time, it is best 



to sow the seeds in autumn and to 

 keep them growing through the winter, 

 for a stronger and earlier development 

 will result. The Melianthus is all but 

 hardy on a well-drained subsoil in shel- 

 tered nooks in the southern and western 

 counties, for though the stems may be cut 

 down by frost, the roots survive and push 

 up in spring. S. Africa. 



MELISSA (Common Balm}. M. 

 offitinalis is a well-known old garden 

 plant, 2 to 3 ft. high, emitting a grateful 

 odour when bruised ; the variegated form 

 is sometimes used for edging, and the 

 common one may be naturalised in any soil 



by those who admire fragrant plants. 

 Division. Europe. 



MELITTIS (Bastard Balm}. M. 

 Melissophyllum is a distinct plant of the 

 Salvia Order, with one to three flowers 

 about i^ in. long in May. The peculiarly 

 handsome purple lip reminds one of some 

 Orchids. M. grandiflora is a slight variety, 

 differing in colour from the normal form. 

 The plant is distinct, and merits a place 

 by shady wood and pleasure-ground walks, 

 as it naturally inhabits woods. Woody 

 spots near a fernery or a rock-garden suit 

 it ; it grows readily among shrubs, and in 

 the mixed border. It is found in a few 

 places in England, and is widely distri- 

 buted over Europe and Asia. Seed of 

 division. 



MENISPERMUM (Canadian Moon- 

 seed}. M. canadense is a hardy climber, of 

 rapid growth, having slender, twining, large 

 roundish leaves, 

 in summer bear- 

 ing long feathery 

 clusters of yel- 

 lowish flowers. 

 It is useful for 

 covering a wall 

 quickly for sum- 

 mer effect or for 

 arbours, trel- 

 lises, and pergo- 

 las, and thrives 

 in almost any 

 soil in shade or 

 sun. 



MENTHA 

 (Mint}. Marsh 

 herbs or rock 

 plants of which 

 the variegated form of M. rotundifolia, is 

 common, and useful for edgings or for 

 clothing any dry spots. Another is M. 

 gibraltarica, a variety of the native M. 

 Pulegium, used in summer for flat geo- 

 metrical beds on account of its compact 

 growth and deep green foliage, which 

 retains its freshness throughout the season. 

 It is one of the easiest plants to grow, and 

 may be increased with wonderful rapidity,, 

 as it bears rapid forcing for early spring cut- 

 tings. Inasmuch as its growth hugs the 

 soil, and throws out roots at every joint, 

 all that is necessary is to keep cutting off 

 little plants and potting them, or planting 

 them in shallow boxes, and in a very short 

 time they will in their turn bear cutting up 

 in like manner. Being a native of S. 

 Europe, it is somewhat tender, and is 

 generally killed in winter. 



M. Requieni is a minute creeping plant 

 with a strong odour of Peppermint, and 

 trails about among the tiniest plants in the 



Moonseed (Menispermum). 



