Marasmius 



(54) 



Marguerites 



porteana (see Stromauthc 



porteana). 

 sinaragdina(now Calathea 



smaragdina) . 

 undulata (now Calathea 



uudulata). 

 zebriua (now Calathea 



zebrina). 



Kercheovei of gardens, 



aud Calathea kerchove- 



anal 

 Mazeltii, grn., banded 



grey. 



minor, grn., blotched br. 

 musaica, Irs. 7" long, grn. 

 polita, ITS. 4" to 6", gni., 



blotched dark grn. 



MARASMIUS. 



Mushrooms with rather tough and leathery parts, 

 quite common in Britain and on the Continent. 

 Oreades, the principal species, is well known as the 

 " Fairy-ring Fungus " of lawns and meadows. It 

 has a very delicate flavour, and is- a wholesome 

 article of food. In this country it is not often 

 eaten, although in parts of Kent, where its merits 

 have become known, it is alluded to as the " Cham- 

 pillion," obviously a corruption from Champignon. 

 It is about 3" high, and the pileus or cap is from 1" 

 to iy across, and umbrella shaped. The gills are 

 creamy white. 



MARATTIA. 



Description. Tropical Ferns (ord. Filices) of 

 great size and stately habit. Naturally they are 

 found in marshy districts, and under cultivation 

 require to be treated almost as sub-aquatics, in 

 order to keep them healthy. It is desirable that 

 the pots should stand in about 6" of water, or 

 there is considerable labour needed in watering 

 during hot weather. The genus is closely allied 

 to Angiopteris, and, like the members of that genus, 

 the plants are only suitable for large houses, where 

 they can be given plenty of head room. Marattias 

 are interesting, apart from their decorative qualities, 

 because in New Zealand, the West Indies, and 

 Brazil the fleshy crowns are frequently cooked and 

 eaten. They are said to be wholesome and nourish- 

 ing, although of peculiar flavour. 



Propagation. Spores, although freely produced, 

 rarely germinate, and increase is usually effected 

 by detaching the plump basal scales from the frond 

 stems, and laying them on a moist bed of sphagnum, 

 in heat. These scales soon send out roots, as well as 

 bulb-like side growths, which ultimately form plants. 



Soil. Three parts of good loam and one part of 

 cow manure, with a little road grit. The loam and 

 cow dung should be stacked together for six 

 months before it is used. 



Other Cultural Points. Fraxinea elegans is the 

 only Marattia that will do in a cool house; the 

 others all need a warm one. Where plants have 

 been allowed to flag from want of water, a good 

 soaking and rather heavy shade for three or four 

 hours will put matters right, but flagging two or 

 three times repeated means a crippled plant. 

 Liquid manure during summer is helpful, and soot 

 water is an excellent stimulant ; none is wanted 

 in winter. Bug, scale, and thrips are the chief 

 insect enemies sponge for the first two, fumigate 

 lightly twice or thrice for the latter. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 alata, fronds 4' to 6', st. sorbifolia). There are 



(*yn. Gymuotheca several vars., of which 



alata). purpurascens and ele- 



Asceusionis (gee fraxiuea gaus (a capital cool- 



purpurascens). house plant) are the 



atteuuata, fronds 3' to 5', best. Salicifolia and 



tripinnate, warm grh. sambucina are others. 



Moorei. Kaulfussii, fronds 3' to 



fraxinea, fronds 6' to 15', 4', quadripiuuate, st. 



bipinuate, st. (syn. purpurascens (sec fraxinea 

 var.). 



Other Species : 



Burkei, fronds 1' to 3', 



triphmate, st. 

 cicuttefolia, fronds 5' to 



6', st. (fif/n. verschaffelt- 



iaua). 



Cooperi (x/v atteuuata). 

 elegans (ice fraxinea var.). 



laxa, fronds 3' to 6', st. 



(xy. Gy mnotheca laxa) . 

 salicifolia (.sre fraxinea 



var.). 



sorbifolia (sec fraxinea). 

 verschaffeltiana (see cicu- 



tsef olia) . 



MARCGRAVIA. 



An interesting- genus of stove climbing epiphytic 

 shrubs (ord. Ternstrcemiaceae). The inflorescence 

 is pendulous, and the flowers hang upside down. 

 Honey and humming birds, while drinking the 

 nectar, brush against them, and so pollinate them. 

 Umbellata has shoots of two kinds, as in the 

 common Ivy. This is the only species in cultivation, 

 though several species of Pothos and Honstera 

 have been wrongly referred to Marcgravia. Even 

 umbellata is of very little horticultural value. 



MARCH MOTH. 



A rather common moth (Anisopteryx sescularia), 

 closely related to the destructive Winter Moth 

 (Cheimatobia brumata). The perfect insects appeal- 

 in early spring, the males alone being winged. 

 The female is dun brown, and about 1" in spread of 

 wings. The larva; prey upon many fruit trees, but 

 chiefly Plums and Apples. The pupa; hibernate in 

 the ground. Grease-banding the trees is to be 

 commended, and this should be followed up by 

 spraying with Paris Green, 1 oz. in 20 gallons of 

 water, as soon as the flowers have dropped. The 

 March Moth and the Winter Moth are frequently 

 found together, and the same treatment will do 

 for both. 



MARGUERITES. 



Under this popular title many plants with large, 

 Daisy-like flowers are grouped, but for garden 

 purposes the undermentioned are best known. 

 The Great Pyrenean Daisy (see Chrysanthemum) is 

 Chrysanthemum maximum, and is a hardy herba- 

 ceous perennial of very easy cultivation. It should 

 have a rich, moist, deep soil, and be divided yearly, 

 as it increases with great rapidity. The Ox-eye 

 Daisy of English meadows is Chrysanthemum 

 Leucanthemum, and whilst considered by some to 

 be too common for the garden, is worthy of 

 attention. The Great Ox-eye Daisy of gardens 

 is Chrysanthemum (sometimes called Pyrethrum) 

 uliginosum. This is especially valuable, as it 

 flowers during September and October. It grows 

 to a height of 4' or more, and requires the same 

 treatment as maximum. The Yellow Marguerite 

 of window-box fame is Chrysanthemum frutes- 

 cens variety, and requires to be protected during 

 the winter. Cuttings may be taken in the 

 autumn or spring and given the same culture as 

 Zonal Pelargoniums (Geraniums). Etoile d'Or is 

 a pale flowered variety. Chrysanthemum anethi- 

 foliura and frutescens furnish the greenhouse White 

 Marguerites. The former has glaucous, finely 

 divided leaves, and flourishes under the same treat- 

 ment as accorded to the Yellow Marguerite. The 

 Blue Marguerite is Agath&a coelestis, which see. 

 This, in addition to being a good greenhouse plant, 

 is also available for summer bedding, and may be 

 utilised in a similar way to the White Marguerites. 



Mari'gravia paradoxa (see Monsteni acuminata). 

 Mare's Tail (see Hifflmris vulgaris). 



