The Sweet-scented Marvel of Peru has white flowers; which, as in the other two kinds, close during the day, and expand when the sun declines, like the Indian Nightflower, which its countrymen have named Sephalica, because they believe the bees sleep upon its blossoms.

The Sweet-scented species is not, however, agreeable to every one, since its scent is of musk, which many persons dislike. It is a native of Mexico, and flowers from June to September.

The Clammy Marvel of Peru has violet-coloured flowers, which blow from August to December.

These plants should be raised in a hot-bed; but if the roots are taken up when they have done flowering, laid in dry sand all the winter, secure from frost, and planted again in the spring, they will flower very well. Towards the end of May they may be set abroad. The first and third kinds are the most hardy. The earth must be but just kept moist.

If placed in a warm situation, they may be raised without a hot-bed, but will not flower till late in the season. The seeds should be sown in April, separately, in eight inch pots when the roots are planted the second year, the pot should be rather larger.

Rousseau, in speaking of the name of this plant, says— "Upon the first discovery of the New World, as America was boastingly called, every thing found there was represented as wonderful. Strange stories were related of the plants and animals they met with, and those which were sent to Europe had pompous names given them. One of these is the Marvel of Peru, the only wonder of which is, the variety of colors in the flower."-ROUSSEAU'S LETTERS ON BOTANY.

CORYMBIFERE.

MARYGOLD.

CALENDULA,

SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA NECESSARIA.

The derivation of Calendula is uncertain: some say it is from the Calends. In English the old name for these flowers is Golds, or Rudds. Golds, or Gouldes, is a name given by the country people to a variety of yellow flowers; and the name of the Virgin Mary has been added to many plants which were anciently, for their beauty, named after Venus, of which the Marygold is one: Costmary, the Virgin Mary's Costus, is another. The French name it, souci du jardin [garden marygold]; in Provence they call it gauche fer [left-hand iron]; perhaps from its round form, like a shield which is borne on the left arm, in contradistinction to the sword, used in the right. The Italians call it calendula ortense, fiorrancio, a corruption of fiore arancio (orange flower) and fiore d'ogni mese, or flower of every month; which latter name gives countenance to the derivation of Calendula from the Calends.

THE Field Marygold is a native of most parts of Europe, and differs but little from the Garden Marygold, except in being altogether smaller.

The Garden Marygold grows naturally in the vineyards of France, the cornfields of Italy, and the orchards, fields, and gardens of Silesia. It was esteemed for its dazzling splendour long before its uses were discovered: it is a common ingredient in soups; and is said, as the old authors express it, "greatly to comfort the heart and the spirits." It has also been recommended as a medicine, but has not obtained much reputation in this way. Formerly it was considered as a wholesome ingredient in salads, but there is an acrimony in the whole plant which has even caused it to be commended as a destroyer of warts. Infused in vinegar, the Marygold is supposed to prevent infection, even that of the plague itself; and, so infused, both the leaves and flowers are found a powerful sudorific. It is, however, very probable that the efficacy

of the infusion, in cases of infection, is more in the vinegar than in the flower infused in it. It has been asserted that the sting of a wasp, or a bee, is effectually cured by rubbing the part affected with a Marygold-flower.

Linnæus has observed, that the Marygold is usually open from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon. The circumstance attracted early notice, and on this account the plant has been termed solisequa (Sun-follower); and solis sponsa, Spouse of the Sun.

There is an allusion to this daily closing of the Marygold in the poems of Chatterton:

"The mary-budde that shutteth with the light."

Another in the Pastorals of W. Browne:

But, maiden, see the day is waxen olde,
And gins to shut in with the marygold."

And a most beautiful one in Shakspeare's Winter Tale:

"The marygold, that goes to bed with the sun,

And with him rises weeping."

And again in Cymbeline:

"Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings

And Phoebus 'gins arise,

His steeds to water at those springs

On chaliced flowers that lies.

And winking marybuds begin

To ope their golden eyes

With every thing that pretty bin,

My lady sweet arise,

Arise, arise."

There are many varieties of the Garden Marygold; one of which, the Proliferous, called by Gerarde the Fruitful Marygold, is, as he says, "called by the vulgar sort of women, Jack-an-apes-on-horseback."

Although this Marygold is generally yellow, there is a

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variety with purple flowers. The Cape Marygolds, specifically so called, as well as some others, natives of the Cape, have a deep purple centre or disk; and the florets around it, which are called the rays of the flower, are of a violet colour without, and a pure white within.

These kinds, like our common Garden Marygold, open when the sun shines, and close in the evening, and in cloudy weather. Two of these, the Grass-leaved, and the Shrubby, are perennial plants: the others are annual.

The Garden Marygold, and the Great, the Little, and the Naked-stalked Cape Marygolds, may be sown in April or in March; the first singly; the others, four of them, or five, in a pot ten inches wide. If they all come up, the two most promising should be preserved, and the rest rooted out; they will not bear transplanting. The Grass-leaved kind is best raised by a gardener; and should be housed, but not kept too warm, in the winter. The Shrubby Marygold is increased by cuttings planted in any of the summer months, and shaded from the sun until they have taken firm root, which will be in five or six weeks. In winter, this must be treated as the last.

The Marygolds must not be suffered to remain dry, but must have but little water at a time. Most of them flower from June till August; but the Garden Marygold continues in bloom till stopped by the frost.

It has been observed that these flowers were formerly called Golds, a name by which Chaucer repeatedly mentions them: we are told, in the glossary, that Gold means a Sun-flower, but it has been remarked that this title also was formerly bestowed upon the Marygold: and the following passage is an additional argument for supposing Chaucer to have intended this flower rather than the enormous Sun-flower, now so called:

"Eke eche at other threwe the flouris bright,

The prymerose, the violete, and the gold."

COURT OF LOVE.

He also bestows a garland of them upon Jealousy, yellow being the colour emblematical of that passion:

THIS shrub is a native of Mexico, and requires winter shelter. It should be housed at Michaelmas, or, if the season be cold, somewhat earlier; and should remain within, till the end of May, or the beginning of June. In April and in October the earth should be removed as deep as can be done without disturbing the roots, and fresh earth substituted. If it requires new potting, it must be carefully removed with the ball of earth about the roots: all the matted, decayed, or mouldy roots on the outside, should be pared away; and, when fresh planted, it should be gently watered, and placed in the shade. April is the best time for transplanting this shrub, that it may have