MARYGOLD. 



these is the Marvel of Peru, the only wonder of which is, 

 the variety of colours in the flower. 11 ROUSSEAU'S LETTERS 

 ON BOTANY. 



MAKYGOLD. 



CALENDULA. 



CORYMBIFER^S. SYNGENESIA TOLYGAMIA NECESSARIA. 



The derivation of Calendula is uncertain : some say it is from the 

 Calends. In English the old name for these flowers is Golds, or Rudds. 

 Golds, or Gouldes, is a name given by the country people to a variety 

 of yellow flowers ; and the name of the Virgin Mary has been added 

 to many plants which were anciently, for their beauty, named after 

 Venus, of which the Marygold is one : Costmary, the Virgin Mary's 

 Costus, is another. The French name it souci du jardin [garden 

 marygold] ; in Provence they call it gauche fer [left hand iron] ; per- 

 haps from its round form, like a shield which is borne on the left arm, 

 in contradistinction to the sword, used in the right. The Italians call 

 it calendula ortense, cappuccina, fiorrancio, a corruption of fiore arancio 

 (orange flower) and fiore d'ogni mese, or flower of every month; 

 which latter name gives countenance to the derivation of Calendula 

 from the Calends. 



THE Field Marygold is a native of most parts of Europe, 

 and differs but little from the Garden Marygold, except in 

 being altogether smaller. 



The Garden Marygold grows naturally in the vineyards 

 of France, the cornfields of Italy, and the orchards, fields,, 

 and gardens of Silesia. It was esteemed for its dazzling 

 splendour long before its uses were discovered : it is a 

 common ingredient in soups ; and is said, as the old 

 authors express it, " greatly to comfort the heart and the 

 spirits. 11 It has also been recommended as a medicine, but 

 has not obtained much reputation in this way. Formerly 

 it was considered as a wholesome ingredient in salads, but 

 there is an acrimony in the whole plant which has even 

 caused it to be commended as a destroyer of warts. In- 



