Marigold
or MARYGOLD (Calendula officinalis). A hardy annual, cultivated in kitchen gardens for the use of its flowers, which are gathered when open, dried slowly, and stored for use in soups, &c. Seeds should be sown in March or April, in drills 1ft. apart, and the plants thinned, in due course, to a similar distance. There are single and double-flowered varieties cultivated, both forming excellent mixed border plants, apart from their use referred to above. The half-hardy annual Marigolds employed in summer bedding and for mixed flower borders, belong to the genus Tagetes, the African being T. erecta, and the French T. patula. Lemon and orange-coloured varieties predominate in the African Marigolds, while the French sorts include, in addition to yellow, flower-heads of a rich velvety brown, beautifully striped and marked. Numerous dwarf strains are now obtainable, which, from their compact and floriferous habit, are very desirable and attractive garden plants. They are increased readily by seeds, which should be sown in a frame by the middle of April, and the seedlings afterwards transplanted outside. A moderately rich light soil is most favourable for Marigolds, and a space of about 9in. between the plants should be allowed in bedding arrangements.