MAT 
MAU 
plants will be sufficiently large for trans¬ 
planting by the end of the following 
April, and will be far stronger than 
when raised in a hot-bed. Much atten¬ 
tion is paid to the saving of this seed 
on the Continent, and as many as twelve 
thoroughly distinct dolours may now be 
selected; a great many more are adver¬ 
tised, but they are indistinct, and we 
think it preferable to have a few decided 
and brilliant colours, than a multitude 
of indefinite shades, several of which are 
mere duplicates of each other. One of 
the first requisites to ensure good double 
stocks is to make the ground intended 
for them in the very best possible con¬ 
dition ; it is a great mistake, and but 
too common to suppose that the soil for 
flowers need not be rich, the opposite is 
indeed nearer the truth, and for these 
plants, is absolutely indispensable; for 
we are of opinion, from observation, that 
the double state is only brought about 
by excess of vigour, and if this condition 
is lost by planting in impoverished 
ground, it is only reasonable to suppose 
that the flowers will degenerate to their 
normal figure. Another common error 
deserves notice, respecting the choice of 
plants to bear seed; it is very generally 
supposed that to ensure seed which will 
produce double flowers in the following 
season, it is necessary that the seed- 
bearing plants stand in close proximity 
to others which have their blossoms 
double, because it is supposed the single 
flow r ers are impregnated with the pollen 
of the double ones; but to prove the 
fallacy of this supposition it is only ne¬ 
cessary carefully to examine the latter, 
and they will be found altogether devoid 
of farina, or the organs which bear it; in 
fact, it is a physical impossibility that 
they should have any, because a double 
flower implies a change of the stamens 
into petals, and hence the absurdity of 
supposing them to have any influence 
on the succeeding year’s produce. The 
great secret in the production of seed 
likely to bring double flowers is, we 
believe, to impart extraordinary vigour 
into the single plants which are to bear 
it, and every means available should be 
resorted to for this end. There is no tan¬ 
gible reason why as good seed should not 
be produced in England as in any part 
of the world, provided the necessary 
care is given to the rearing and saving 
of it; let the largest pods from the 
strongest plants be selected, and the 
seed placed in good ground, and we en¬ 
gage there will be no lack of double 
flowers. The intermediate stock is an 
excellent kind to grow in pots for early 
spring decoration; the seed should be 
sown about Midsummer for this purpose, 
and the young plants after being potted 
should be brought up as robust as possi¬ 
ble ; keeping them in frames through 
the winter until they are in bloom, when 
they tend to make the greenhouse gay 
in March, and in April may be turned 
into the flower garden, where they con¬ 
tinue to bloom for a length of time. 
Double varieties may be perpetuated by 
striking the side shoots at Midsummer, 
under a hand-glass, as is practised with 
pinks, but this trouble is hardly neces¬ 
sary, if the foregoing directions are ob¬ 
served. There are several other species 
included in the genus, only one of which, 
however, is often seen beyond the pre¬ 
cincts of the purely botanical collection, 
this one is the Mathiola foist is, or night- 
smelling stock; it is a curious looking- 
plant, with narrow glaucous foliage and 
small lurid coloured flowers, emitting an 
agreeable fragrance in the evening, and 
on this account is yet preserved along 
with its more gay associates ; it requires 
to be grown in the greenhouse, with the 
ordinary management of plants belong¬ 
ing to this structure, and is readily in¬ 
creased by cuttings. 
M AURANDIA (Jacquin.) Nat. Ord. 
Scrophulariacece. These elegant twining 
plants are very generally grown for de¬ 
corating the pillars in the greenhouse 
and conservatory, or for covering walls 
and other objects in the flower garden, 
through the summer months; the ra¬ 
pidity with which they grow on being 
turned out, and the profuse mass of 
flowers which a good-sized plant pre¬ 
sents, render them particularly suited to 
the purpose ; they form also very beau¬ 
tiful edgings to large flower beds, when 
encircled with a light wire trellis. 
