278 Mary gold. 



mine, slightly edged with gold ; others exhibiting yellow flow- 

 ers, so fancifully striped or dashed with crimson, that it would 

 be difficult to find two plants with flowers alike. These 

 flowers have only their gaiety to recommend them, since their 

 odor is more offensive than agreeable, and may be compared 

 to those persons who depend more on their wardrobe than their 

 conduct in making themselves agreeable ; we therefore present 

 them as emblematical of Vulgar Minds. 



These showy annual flowers may be raised by sowing 

 the seeds on a warm border in the open garden ; but the more 

 certain method of procuring fine plants is to sow the seed 

 in the beginning of April, upon a moderately hot bed, and when 

 the plants are come up they should have sufficient air to prevent 

 their being drawn up weakly. When about three inches high 

 they should be transplanted to a second bed very moderately 

 heated, covering them with mats to screen them from the sun 

 and winds until they have acquired sufficient strength,observing 

 to give them water in dry seasons. In May they will be ready 

 for removal into the parterre ; and in doing this they should be 

 taken up with a ball of earth about the roots, so as to check 

 their growth as litde as possible. Should the earth be dry 

 about this time, it would be advisable to water the bed about 

 an hour before the young plants are removed, so as to make 

 the soil adhere. It is desirable to have a considerable number 

 of them, as well as China Asters, in pots, as a reserve, to be 

 plunged into any part of the grounds that may be deficient in 

 autumnal flowers. The seeds should be collected, not only 

 from the finest plants, but from the centre of flowers of the 

 principal stems only. The varieties of the African Marygold 

 are very subject to change ; so that unless the seeds are pro- 

 cured from the finest flowers, they are more apt to degenerate 

 than the French, and Miller recommends that the seed should 

 have a change of soil every second year, so as to keep the va- 

 rieties in perfection. 



Belonging to the same class and order as the common Mary- 

 gold ; is a renowned plant, the generic name of which is Sil- 

 phium. It is found in the Southern, Western and Middle States, 

 the Savannahs, prairies and mountain meadows of which 

 present us with a gigantic race of vegetables somewhat 



