THE COMMON MAEIGOLD. 



Calendula officinalis. 



ROM the common marigold here 

 faithfully figured, and suggestive 

 of soup, to the delicate French 

 marigold, Tagetes palida, that the 

 florists grow for exhibition, and 

 bring to a perfection of geometric 

 marking that makes a place in 

 floriculture for mathematics, what 

 a stride ! Fifty years and more ago 

 a flower show of a very individual 

 nature engrossed my attention 

 and made a deep impression on my 

 mind. It consisted entirely of 

 marigolds, and the scene was the 

 churchyard of St. Botolph, Aid- 

 gate, where these flowers had run wild, 

 and, as wild things are wont to do, 

 had taken care to keep the race going, 

 so that there should be no lack of 

 wild marigolds from year to year, for in truth the 

 ground was literally covered with them as with a pave- 

 ment of stars stamped out of the rinds of oranges. At 

 that early date I had heard, but had never tasted, of 

 soup flavoured or adorned I knew not which with 



