PLANTS WORTH GROWING 163 
some few heads of bloom in evidence. The flowers 
are produced in Polyanthus style and of somewhat 
similar shape. The colour is light yellow, but when 
the flower is young, each has five circular spots of 
rich velvety brown, which are first sharply defined 
and intense, but gradually fade until they disappear 
entirely. The name Prophet Flower originated from 
the fact that the variability of duration of these 
spots was supposed to be governed by approaching 
changes in the weather, but observation tends to 
show that the spots fade rapidly when the weather 
is actually wet. Seeds germinate readily, and if 
transferred to pots while still small, and kept out 
of reach of slugs, the seedlings soon develop into 
strong plants that may be transferred to flowering 
quarters in the front of a sunny border. 
Malva. — The Malvas or Mallows are easily grown 
and very decorative plants. The pink and white 
flowered forms of M. Moschata, with their flat 
Hibiscus-like flowers and cut leaves, are grand 
plants for dry, exposed situations. Raising from 
seed is the best method of propagation, for although 
division of old stools is possible the pieces do not 
grow with the vigour of young seedlings. In very 
dry places the plants flower profusely at a height of 
a foot or so, but in strong soil they will make big 
branching plants up to a yard in height and dia- 
meter. Malva Alcea is a taller plant with soft 
downy foliage and loose spikes of pink Hollyhock- 
like blossoms. This also thrives in harsh, dry soils. 
