180 MIRABILIS 



MIRA'BILIS continued. 



A quaint, old-fashioned border plant, perennial 

 by nature, but not very robust in our climate, so is 

 usually treated in this country as a half-hardy 

 annual. The plants are bushy and have a carrot- 

 shaped tuberous root, which should be lifted if it 

 is desired to keep it, just as a Dahlia would be, 

 during the winter. The roots, however, in time 

 become cumbersome to move, and it is hardly 

 worth the trouble, since it is so easily raised from 

 seed. Being natives of Mexico and California, and 

 other warm climes, they require the warmest and 

 most sheltered spot in the garden. 

 M. jala'pa grows about 2^ ft. high. The flowers 

 are about 1 in. across, open in the evening, and 

 vary from white, rose, lilac, yellow, crimson, 

 and purple. W. Indies, 1596. 

 M. longifloi j cb is about the same height, but has 

 white tubular flowers with carmine centres, 

 somewhat fragrant, expanding about sunset, 

 but unfortunately withering before the morn- 

 ing. Mexico, 1759. 



M. multiflor^a is rather dwarfer than M. jalapa. 

 The flower clusters are a crimson-purple 

 colour, and not shy of the sunlight like the 

 other two. California, 1876. 

 Propagate by sowing the seed in. deep in 

 pots of light soil in temp, of about 70 in 

 February, transferring to cold frame to harden 

 off, and planting out at the end of May or 

 in June. 



