MALLOWS 261 



occasionally be found bearing white blossoms, but 

 this variation, though interesting and a good thing 

 to possess, is not really so attractive as the normal 

 pink-flowered plant. The musk mallow is found 

 chiefly on chalk or gravel. 



The common mallow M. sylvestris is abundant 

 almost everywhere, and will, without invitation, 

 find a footing in our garden if it can, and if it be 

 once fairly in possession will prove a trouble, as 

 it seeds very freely, and occupies a good deal of 

 ground. It is difficult, too, to eradicate. We 

 sympathise then with Tusser, who warns the farmer 

 that, as part of the work of the Spring 



" Thy garden plot latelie well trenched and muckt, 

 Should now be twifallowd, the mallowes out pluckt." 



Hilman, in his "Tusser Redivivus," published in 

 1710, amplifies this in the additional caution : " In 

 trenching, bury no mallow, nettle-dock, or briony 

 roots." In another passage Tusser warns us to 

 clear from our ground 



" Grasse, thistle, and mustard seede, hemlock and bur, 

 Tine, mallow, and nettle, that keepe such a stur." 



The marsh mallow one would gladly include in 

 one's collection of interesting things, but its special 

 fondness for marshy land in maritime districts 

 debars its successful cultivation. Many kinds of 



