Gardening For The Million Part 20

Mistletoe.--Raise the bark of an apple, pear, or oak tree on the underneath part of a branch and insert some well-ripened berries, then tie the bark down neatly with raffia or woollen yarn. If the berries were inserted on the top of the branch the operation would result in failure, as the birds would devour them.

Mitella Diphylla.--A hardy perennial which bears slender racemes of white flowers in April. It makes a pretty rock plant, delights in a peat soil, and is increased by division of the root. Height, 6 in.

Moles.--These pests may be destroyed by placing in their runs worms that have been kept for some time in mould to which carbonate of barytes has been added.

Monardia Didyma (_Oswego Mint, or Horse Balm_).--_See_ "Bergamot."

Monetia Barlerioides.--An ornamental shrub, suitable for the greenhouse or stove. It requires to be grown in loam and peat, and may be increased by cuttings planted in sand, under gla.s.s, in a bottom-heat. Height, 3 ft.

Monkey Flower.--_See_ "Mimulus."

Monkey Puzzle.--_See_ "Araucaria."

Monk's-hood.--_See_ "Aconite."

Montbretia.--Very graceful and showy plants. The flowers, which are like small Gladioli, are produced on long branched spikes and are excellent for cutting. Plant 3 in. deep and 2 in. apart in sandy loam and leaf-mould. The corms should never be kept long out of the ground, as they shrivel, and weak growth and few flowers are the result.

Though they are hardy it is well to give them a covering of litter in winter. They may also be grown in pots. Height, 2-1/2 ft.

Moraea Iridioides.--These plants flower in May, and require the same treatment as Ixias.

Morina (_Whorl Flower_).--An ornamental hardy perennial, which is seldom met with. It forms rosettes of large, deep green, s.h.i.+ny foliage and stout spikes of rose-coloured flowers in whorls, which make it one of the most attractive of Thistles. It likes a rich, light soil, is increased by seed sown in the autumn, also by division in August, and flowers in July. Height, 21/2 ft.

Morisia Hypogaea.--This is a pretty hardy perennial for rock-work. It flowers in May, and is raised from seed sown as soon as it is ripe.

Height, 2 in.

Morna Elegans.--Beautiful half-hardy annuals. For early flowering sow the seed in September: for later blooms sow in February in slight heat, pot off, affording good drainage to the plants. They are very sensitive to cold, and should not be placed out of doors before the end of May. Avoid over-watering, as this would prove fatal to them.

The soil should be light and sandy. Those sown in September will bloom in the greenhouse in May; those sown in February will flower in the open in the autumn. Height, 11/2 ft.

Morning Glory.--_See_ "Convolvulus."

Morrenia Odorata.--A good twining plant for the greenhouse, producing fragrant cream-coloured flowers in July. It will grow in any good loamy soil, and may be increased by cuttings. Height, 3 ft.

Moss.--To eradicate moss from fruit-trees wash the branches with strong brine or lime water. If it makes its appearance on the lawn, the first thing to do is to ensure a good drainage to the ground, rake the moss out, and apply nitrate of soda at the rate of 1 cwt. to the half-acre, then go over the gra.s.s with a heavy roller. Should moss give trouble by growing on gravel paths, sprinkle the ground with salt in damp weather.

Mountain _Avens.--See_ "Dryas."

Muhlenbeckia Complexa.--A very decorative climber, hardy in nature but requiring a good amount of suns.h.i.+ne to make it bloom. A well-drained, sandy soil is best for its growth, and it can be increased by cuttings of hardy shoots taken early in summer. Height, 6 ft.

Mulberries.--Any good soil will grow the Mulberry. The tree is hardy, but the fruit wants plenty of suns.h.i.+ne to bring it to perfection. It may be propagated by cuttings of wood one year old with a heel two years old attached. The only pruning necessary is to keep the branches well balanced. Autumn is the time to do this, not forgetting that the fruit is borne on the young wood. When grown in tubs or large pots in the greenhouse the fruit attains the perfection of flavour. In addition to the Large Black and the White (Morus Alba) the New Weeping Russian White may be recommended.

Mulching.--_See_ "Soil."

Muscari.--_See_ "Hyacinthus."

Muscari Botryoides.--_See_ "Hyacinthus."

Mushrooms.--Take partially dry horse manure and lay it in a heap to ferment. Turn and mix it well every few days, and when well and equally fermented, which will be from ten to fourteen days, make it into a bed 4 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep, mixing it well together and beating or treading it firmly. When the temperature of the bed falls to 75 degrees, or a little under, the sp.a.w.n may be inserted in pieces about the size of a walnut, 2 in. deep and 6 in. apart. Now give a covering of loamy soil, 2 in. deep, and beat it down evenly and firmly. Finish off with a covering of clean straw or hay about 1 ft.

thick. Water when necessary with lukewarm water; but very little should be given till the Mushrooms begin to come up, then a plentiful supply may be given. They may be grown in any warm cellar or shed, and usually appear in from four to six weeks after planting.

Musk (_Mimulus Moschatus_).--A well-known sweet-scented, half-hardy perennial, well adapted for pot culture. A moist, shady position is most congenial to it when placed in the border. Seed sown in autumn make fine, early-flowering greenhouse plants. For summer blooming the seed is sown early in spring, under a frame or hand-gla.s.s, at a temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees. It is readily propagated by division. Height, 6 in.

Mustard and Cress.--For sowing in the open choose a shady border, make the surface fine and firm, and water it well before putting down the seed. Let the seed be sown thickly at intervals of seven or fourteen days from March to September. As the Cress does not germinate so quickly as the Mustard, the former should be sown four days before the latter. The seed must not be covered, but simply pressed into the surface of the soil. Keep the ground moist, and cut the crop when the second leaf appears. For winter use it is best sown in boxes and grown in a frame, the seed being covered with flannel kept constantly moist.

This may be removed as soon as the seed germinates. Gardeners mostly prefer to grow it through coa.r.s.e flannel, to avoid the possibility of grit being sent to table. The curled leaf Cress is the best, and the new Chinese Mustard is larger in leaf than the old variety, and is very pungent in flavour.

Myosotis (_Forget-me-not_).--The perennial varieties of these beautiful plants grow best in moist places, such as the edges of ponds or ditches; but they also do well in pots among Alpine plants. Most of them may be increased by root division, and all of them by seed. The annuals like a dry, sandy soil, and are grown from seed sown in March.

They flower in June or July. Height, 6 in.

Myrica Gala (_Candleberry Myrtle_).--This hardy deciduous shrub is very ornamental, and its foliage is scented like the myrtle. It will grow in light, rich soil, but thrives best in peat, and may be increased by seeds or layers. May is its flowering time. Height, 4 ft.

M. Cerifera is treated in precisely the same manner. Height, 6 ft.

Myrsiphyllum Asparagoides.--_See_ "Smilax."

Myrtle (_Myrtus_).--Will strike readily if the cuttings be placed in a bottle of water till roots grow, and then planted; or young cuttings will strike in sandy soil under a hand-gla.s.s. They succeed best in a mixture of sandy loam and peat and on a south wall. Near the sea they prove quite hardy. Height, 6 ft.

N

Narcissus.--_See_ "Daffodils."

Nasturtiums.--These are among the most useful of our hardy annuals, producing a display of the brightest of colours throughout the entire summer. The tall-growing climbers make a gay background to a border, and are equally valuable for trellis-work, while the dwarf varieties are first-cla.s.s bedding plants, and of great service for ribboning.

The seeds may be sown in pots in September or in the open ground early in spring. A light sandy or gravelly soil is the best to produce a wealth of bloom. Height, 6 ft. and 1 ft.

Nectarines.--Require the same treatment as the Peach. In fact, the Nectarine stone sometimes produces a Peach, and a Peach stone often produces a Nectarine. Fairchild's, Humboldt, Lord Napier, and Red Roman are useful varieties. They should stand 20 ft. apart.

Neilla.--These shrubs thrive in ordinary soil, and are increased by cuttings of the young wood. They flower in July. N. Torreyi bears white Spiraea-like flowers, which are very effective. Height, 6 ft.

Nemesia.--A most beautiful half-hardy annual of the Antirrhinum cla.s.s.

Sow the seed early in spring on a hotbed, and plant out in May in rich, light soil. Cuttings of the young wood will strike under gla.s.s.

Height, 1-1/2 ft. to 2-1/2 ft.

Nemophila.--Pretty, neat, and compact hardy annuals, well worth cultivating. They succeed best in a moist and shady situation, delight in peat or vegetable mould, and when grown in circles are very striking. If wanted to flower early, sow the seed in autumn, or on a hotbed in spring; and if required for late blooming, sow in the open in March. Treated thus they flower from June to September. Height, 1 ft.

Nepeta Glechoma Variegata.--A very useful plant for hanging baskets.

It can be trained as a pyramid or allowed to hang down; in many cases it is employed as edgings. It is of easy culture, and does well as a window plant or in a cool greenhouse. The soil should be light and dry. It flowers in July, and may be increased by root-division.

Nerine Sarniense.--_See_ "Guernsey Lily."

Nertera Depressa (_Coral Berry_).--This pretty Moss-like plant is fairly hardy, and is eminently suited for a sheltered position on the rockery. The soil should consist of leaf-mould and sand, and overhead sprinkling with soft water is very beneficial. In cold districts it is better to grow it in the greenhouse. The flowers are produced in July, succeeded by orange-coloured berries. It is easily increased by dividing it early in the spring. Height, 3 in.

Neuvusia Alabamensis.--A tamarix-like shrub, bearing cl.u.s.ters of white flowers early in spring. Will grow in any soil or situation. Increased by cuttings placed in sand under gla.s.s.

Nicotiana (_Tobacco Plants_).--Very showy half-hardy annuals. N.

Affinis bears long, tubular, sweet-scented, white flowers in July, and grows to the height of 3 ft. N. Virginica produces immense leaves and pink flowers, and the plants are 4 to 5 ft. high. The seed is sown on a hotbed in spring, and when the second or third leaf appears the plants are put into small pots and placed in a frame till the end of May, when they are transferred to the border.

Nierembergia (_Cup Flowers_).--These elegant half-hardy annuals grow well in any light soil, but prefer a mixture of sandy loam and leaf-mould. Sow the seed in March or April in slight heat, harden off, and plant out in May as soon as all fear of frost is over. They flower in July. Height, 9 in. to 1 ft.

Nierembergia Rivularis.--This herbaceous plant is of a creeping nature; it has deep green ovate foliage and large saucer-shaped white flowers. It needs a moist position, and is increased by division. The bloom is produced throughout June, July, and August. Height, 3 in.