Indian Cress.
397. Indian Cress, or Xasturtium, (Tropxolum majus, L. ; Octandria lllcnogynia ; Gerania, Juss.) is a native of Peru : it was introduced into England near the close of the 17th century. It is the capucine of the French. The stalks, if supported, will rise six or eight feet high ; the leaves are peltiote, or have their petiole fixed to the centre of the leaf; the flowers are very showy, of a brilliant orange colour, and continue in succession front July till destroyed by frost. In its native country it endures seve ral seasons; but here, being unable to sustain our winter, it is treated as an annual plant, and sown every year. The flowers and young leaves are frequently eaten in salads ; they have a warm taste like tresses, and from this circum stance the name of nasturtium has been bestowed. The flowers are also used as a garnish to dishes, and form a beautiful contrast with the flowers of borage. The seeds, when green, form a favourite pickle ; they are often called capers, and substituted for them.
If the seeds be sown in April, in drills about two inches dee\, in places where the stalks can have support, no other care is necessary. A fresh but poor soil is better than a rich one, which last makes them too rampant and less fruitful. The plant is often employed as a temporary hedge or screen, to hide any disagreeable object, stakes be ing fixed, which it soon completely covers. Although des titute of proper tendrils, the petioles or leaf-stalks make a peculiar bend, by which they attach themselves to any small body coming in the way, and support the plant. The seeds ripen freely in September, and may then be gathered for pickling, keeping some of the largest and ripest for next year's sowing.
There is a variety with double flowers, which is conti nued by cuttings, and sheltered in a hot-house, or the warmer part of a green-house, all winter. It is both highly ornamental as a flower, and forms a still more beautiful garnish than the single.
398. Dwarf Indian Cress (Tropteolum minus, L.) is also a Peruvian plant, and an annual ; it is cultivated in the same way, and for the same purposes, as the other. It is generally sown on borders, and allowed to spread on the ground. There is likewise a double variety of this, which forms a very pretty green-house ornament.
Marigold.
399. Marigold, or pot marigold, (Calendula officinalis, L.; Syngenesia Polygamia necessaria ; Corymbifer,e, Juss.) is
an annual plant, a native of France and Spain ; but one of the oldest and best known inhabitants of our gardens, its flowers having formerly been much in repute, as " com forters of the heart." Though little faith is now placed in its virtues, it still keeps its place ; it is to be found in most cottage gardens both in England and Scotland ; and 1\ir Marshall observes, that " the flower is a valuable in gredient in broths and soups, however it may have got into disuse." The flowers are dried in autumn, and kept in pa per bags for use. The single-flowered orange marigold is most aromatic, ami, the most proper for keeping. There is a pale flowered variety, called the Lemon-coloured ma rigold ; and there arc double-flowered varieties both of the orange and lemon colour. The most curious variety is the chilling or proliferous, which sends out small flowers from the margins of the calyx of the large central flow ers ; but this sort is very apt to degenerate ; to give a fair chance of preserving it, seed should be saved only from the large central flowers. The common marigold sows it self abundantly, and the seedlings may be transplanted in May ; so that, when the plant has once established itself, there is seldom any need for sowing.
Borage.
400. Borage (Borago officinalia, L.; Pentandria Mono gynia ; nat. ord. aaperifolite) is an annual plant, either a na tive, or completely naturalized in many parts of Britain ; (Eng. lot. t. 36 ) The lower leaves are oblong and spread on the ground ; the flower-stems rise near two feet high ; both they and the leaves are rough with white bristly hairs; the bright blue flowers make a beautiful appearance, and are produced for several months in succession. Borage was formerly high in estimation as a cordial plant, for driv ing away sorrow ; but " very light, surely, (says Sir J. E. Smith,) were those sorrows that could be so driven away." It is still sometimes used when young as a pot-herb, and in salads ; the spikes of flowers form an ingredient in cool tankards, and the blossoms are occasionally employed as a garnish. The juice of the plant affords nitre, and the wi thered stalks have been observed to burn like match-paper. Borage will sow itself, and come every year. There is a variety with white flowers, and another with flowers of a pale red or flesh colour ; but neither is common.