Encyclopaedia of Gardening 237 



Mulching. To " mulch " soil is to cover the surface with a light 

 coating of manure, cocoa-nut fibre refuse, or grass, with the object 

 of conserving moisure by checking evaporation. A mulch of 

 manure also feeds the crop near which it is placed. 



Mullein. See Verbascum. 



Muscari. See Bulbs. 



Mushroom. See Kitchen Garden. 



Musk Hyacinth, Muscari moschatus. 



Mustard and Cress. See Kitchen Garden. 



Myosotidium, New Zealand Forget-me-not (myosotid-ium, from 

 myosotis, and eidos, like, in allusion to the resemblance to the 

 Myosotis or Forget-me-not. Ord. Boragineae). A pretty herba- 

 ceous perennial, suitable for the rockery, where it likes a cool, shady 

 spot and a peaty compost. Propagation is by division in spring. 

 M. nobilis, the only species, has "blue and white flowers in spring, 

 height 1 8 ins. (see the Botanical Magazine, t. 5137). 



Myosotis (myoso-tis, from mus, mouse, and otis, an ear, in allusion 

 to the form of the leaves. Ord. Boragineae). See Forget-me-not. 



Myrobalan Plum. See Hedge. 



Myrtus, Myrtle (myr-tus, from miron, perfume. Ord. Myrtaceae). 

 Handsome shrubs, grown mainly for their foliage. They are 

 good for growing in tubs to stand on large verandahs and in spacious 

 conservatories. The common Myrtle, communis, may be grown 

 outdoors in sheltered places. Loam, with a third of leaf mould and 

 some sand, suit. Propagation is by cuttings under a bell-glass in 

 early summer. There are many varieties of the common Myrtle, 

 of which Belgica, flore pleno (double), and variegata may be 

 mentioned. Ugni, pink, is the same as Eugenia Ugni (see the 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 4626). 



Narcissus (narciss-us, after Narcissus, a mythological youth. 

 Ord. Amaryllideae). See Bulbs. 



Nasturtium (nastur-tium, from nasus, nose, and tortus, tortured, 

 in allusion to the strong smell. Ord. Cruciferae). The Nasturtium 

 of gardens is a hardy annual, with large, brilliant flowers (see 

 Annuals). It has no right to the name, however, for it is a Tropae- 

 olum. Owing to its pungency it was called Indian Cress, and as the 

 common Water Cress is Nasturtium oincinale, the name Nasturtium 

 became attached to it. 



Navelwort. See Cotyledon umbilicus. Venus's Navelwort is 

 Omphalodes linifolia. 



Neapolitan Violet. See Violet. 

 Nectarine. See Fruit. 

 Negundo. See Acer Negundo. 



Nelumbium (nelum-bium, from nelumbo, the- Indian name. Ord. 

 Nymphaeaceae) . The Sacred Bean or Egyptian Lotos, N. speciosum 

 (see the Botanical Magazine, t. 903), is a beautiful aquatic, with 



