78 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOIFERS. 



by seeds soaxu iu heat, and flowering them early in a warm 

 greenhfjuse. By this treatment, with the plentiful use of 

 water, very tine 2>lants may be jjrodueed. We have seen 

 them so grown for Co vent Garden Market, and a house 

 containing a few thousand of the plants in flower presented 

 a very pretty appearance, the brilliant green leafage being 

 agreeably varied by the gay flowers, which have a yellow 

 ground and are grotesquely sj)otted. 



There are in cultivation several distinct varieties of this 

 minaulus, differing chiefly in the colour of the flowers. 

 Aud there are several other species equally worthy the 

 attention of the amateur florist, both because of their 

 beauty and the extreme simplicity of the cultivation they 

 i-equire, the point of chief importance being to indulge 

 their love of moisture. M. variegatus has flowers curiously 

 painted purple and yellow ; M. roseus has flowers of a 

 lirio'ht rose, iu some degree resembling: the newer kinds of 

 begonia; M. cardinalis has scarlet flowers; and M. cupreits 

 is of the colour of copper when just acquiring the dulness 

 that follows soon after polishing. All these ripen seed iu 

 plenty, and may be most easily multiplied; but they may 

 also be propagated from cuttings, or by division of the 

 somewhat fleshy roots. 



The best known of the family is the odorous musk 

 plant (M. nioHrliatitd), a delightful occupant of the cottage 

 windo'\\', and a most important plant at a cottagers' floA\ er 

 show. This is l)ut rarely seen in the garden, but it is a 

 good plant to occupy part of a border near a summer-house, 

 in company ^^'ith such things as the lily of the valley and 

 the woodruff, to diffuse a delightful perfume. In common 

 Avith these fav(jurites, the musk has but to be left alone 

 aud it will reappear ttdth them in the spring, and grow 



