DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 277 
more delicate in its habits. Both of the varieties are bet- 
ter grown in the green-house, but are perfectly hardy. 
The plant blooms more profusely in a good loamy soil, 
mixed with a little manure or leaf-mould. If the soil be 
very rich, the plant will be liable to grow too vigorously, 
and produce a vast profusion of foliage, which will rather 
conceal the flowers; but, if moderately enriched, it will 
produce one mass of bloom, I find it profitable to give 
all my flower-beds an addition of fresh soil every winter, 
generally adding about two or three inches deep. If the 
Malope grandifiora is not desired to come into bloom be- 
Sore the beginning of August, the seed may be sown in 
April or May, in the open border where it is desired that 
the plants shall blossom. The plant produces seed in 
abundance, which ripen well from plants that bloom early 
in the summer. 
MALVA,—Ma tows. 
(An old Latin name from the Greek, for soft.J 
Malva alcéa.—A pretty, hardy perennial, from Ger- 
many, with purple flowers from July to October; three 
feet high; easily propagated by seed or divisions of the 
roots. 
Varieties of the same, have pink and white flowers; 
lower leaves angular; upper, five-parted, cut; stems and 
calyxes velvety. 
M. crispa.—The Syrian or Curled Mallow.—Has white 
flowers, veined, with red or purple, with elegant curled 
leaves; annual; flowers in June, July, and August. 
A species of Mallow was used among the Romans as an 
esculent vegetable. Horace mentions it as one of his or- - 
dinary dishes. 
“Olives, succory, and white Mallows are my food.” 
Job speaks of them as being caten in times of famine: 
