156 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



thick stems. They were named by Linnseus, in 

 honour of John Godfrey Zinn, a German botanist. 



Somewhat similar in colour to these flowers, 

 are the African and French marigolds ; but 

 the latter have been much longer in the British 

 garden. Tlie very unpleasant odour of these 

 plants, is hardly compensated by the velvet 

 suit of yellow and brown in which they are 

 attired ; but one of the Afiican marigolds 

 {Tagetes lucidct) has a pleasant fragrances. 

 Parkinson remarks of the flower, that it "smells 

 like a honeycomb, and has not that poysonful 

 scent of the other kinds." 



The French marigold (Tagetes patula) is 

 called in France lyetit ceillet d'hide, but it is 

 " not, as its name would import, a native either 

 of France or India. Both this and the African 

 marigold are cultivated in the gardens of 

 India, China, and Japan. This species has 

 great brilliance of colours, varying from a 

 bright yellow to a deep orange tint. 



The Italians term these plants garofano 

 Messicano, and also death flower, Jior di morto. 

 All the species are American, and the Italian 

 names have both probably a reference to the 

 tradition which exists respecting them. It is 

 said that these flowers sprung up on grounds 

 on which had been spilled the blood of the 

 unfortunate Mexicans who fell victims to the 

 love of gold, and the thirst of power, which 

 induced the Spaniards to destroy these unof- 

 fending people. And truly has the Scripture 

 said, that " the love of money is the root of all 



