AGER'ATUM MEXICA'NUM. 
MEXICAN AGERATUM. 
Order. 
.squalis. 
Natural Order. 
ASTERACEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
2 feet 
July, Aug. 
Perennial. 
in 1822. 
No. 1 123. 
The name Ageratum is compounded from the 
Greek privative a, and geras, old age ; signifying 
‘ never old.’ It has been suggested that this name 
was intended for some evergreen, to indicate its 
continuous youth and freshness ; the old herbalists 
however, believe that the plant to which the Greeks 
applied the name, was some composite flower, per- 
haps an Achillea, which would have influenced 
Linneus in employing it. 
Although this plant was introduced so early as 
the year 1822 , still it has been but partially culti- 
vated, until adopted for bedding out, as gardeners 
technically call the use of a plant, when used to 
fill beds without the mixture of others. Single 
plants, in the mingled parterre, are less pleasing 
than when seen in a mass, filling entire beds, for 
which purpose it is suitable, producing a multi- 
tude of flowers, which continue in beauty till gath- 
ered by the shrivelling hand of an autumnal frost. 
Seedling plants require to be raised in a hotbed 
or greenhouse, and when large enough, should be 
potted singly, that they may be turned out at the 
end of May, a foot asunder. 
Class. 
SY NGENESIA. 
