TAGETES 237 



SWEET ROCKET. See HESPERIS. 

 SWEET SCABIOUS. See SCABIOSA. 

 SWEET SULTAN. See CENTAUREA. 

 SWEET WILLIAM. See DIANTHUS barbatw. 



TAGE'TES (from L. Tages, an Etruscan deity, generally 

 represented as a handsome youth). Nat. Ord. 

 Composite. 



This genus includes the so-called African and 

 French Marigolds. As cut flowers they are not 

 popular on account of their disagreeable odour, 

 but in the flower border, the African Marigolds in 

 particular, strike a note of gaudy colouring, 

 especially if grown in a mass, unsurpassed by any 

 other flower. For this reason care should be taken 

 not to overplant it, otherwise the effect is likely to 

 look vulgar. These plants stand drought well, a 

 great thing in their favour. The African Marigold 

 grows a considerable height, a fact to be considered 

 when planting out. T. signata, being dwarf, is 

 usually used as an edging. 



The reason for the terms African and French 

 Marigolds is difficult to determine, but it appears 

 probable that the seeds were first imported to 

 France, though all are natives of Mexico. 



T. erec'ta. The African Marigold is a vigorous, 

 erect-growing plant, about 3 ft. high, produc- 

 ing both double and single blooms of large 

 size from deep orange to pale sulphur yellow. 

 Introduced 1596. 



