Encyclopaedia of Gardening 231 



of liquid from stables and cow-houses, broken down to the 

 colour of weak tea with water; house slops; nitrate of soda and 

 superphosphate at the rate of half an ounce each per gallon of water, 

 or sheep droppings soaked in water. Soot-water is an excellent 

 liquid, and this may be made by putting some soot into a piece of 

 sacking and hanging it in a tub of water for a few hours. Dry soot 

 is a safe stimulant for most crops if spread on the ground half an 

 inch thick and hoed in. 



Maple. Handsome trees, referred to under Acer. 



Maranta, Arrow-root (maran-ta, after Signor Maranti. Ord. 

 Scitamineae). Hothouse herbaceous perennials with handsome 

 foliage, thriving in loam, with sand and a third of leaf mould, and 

 propagated by division when growth starts in spring, putting the 

 divisions in bottom heat. Chantrieri, major, Massangeana, and 

 zebrina are popular, the latter (now Calathea zebrina) particularly 

 so. 



Marguerite. See Chrysanthemum frutescens and Greenhouse. 



Marigold. See Annuals Half-hardy. The African have large 

 lemon and orange flowers, the French smaller striped flowers. 

 There are both dwarf and tall strains. 



Mariposa Lily. See Bulbs Calochortus. 



Marjoram. See Kitchen Garden Herbs. 



Marrow, Vegetable. See Kitchen Garden. 



Marsh Mallow, Althaea. 



Marsh Marigold, Caltha. 



Martynia (rriartyn-ia, after Dr. Martyn. Ord. Pedalineae). The 

 most popular member of this genus is fragrans, a greenhouse annual 

 with perfumed crimson flowers in summer, height 2 ft., sown in 

 spring. 



Marvel of Peru. See Mirabilis Jalapa. 



Masdevallia (masdevall-ia, after Senor Masdevall. Ord. Orchida- 

 ceae). Brilliant Orchids, with flat flowers, thriving in a warm 

 greenhouse in a compost of fibrous peat and Sphagnum moss over 

 abundance of crocks. During the growing season in summer they 

 must have liberal supplies of water, but little will be wanted in 

 winter when they are resting. They thrive in a cool house, and are 

 propagated by division at midwinter, when fresh growth starts. 

 Coccinea, red, spring, 8 ins. high; ignea, orange, spring, several 

 varieties; Tovarensis, white, winter, 6 ins., free flowering (Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 5505); and Veitchiana, vermilion, spring, i ft., are a 

 few of the best species; but there is much interest in the modern 

 hybrids, for particulars of which a good work on Orchids should 

 be consulted. 



Matricaria (matrica-ria, from matrix, female, owing to its use in 

 feminine disorders. Ord. Compositae). The most useful of these 

 are the hardy annual varieties offered by seedsmen, such as inodora 

 plenissima, double white; and eximia Golden Ball and Silver Ball. 

 For culture, see Annuals. 



