TAGETES, FRENCH MARIGOLD; a genus of the polygamia superflua order, belonging to the syn-genesia class of plants. There are three species; the most remarkable are,
1. The erecta, grows naturally in Mexico, but has been long cultivated in the British gardens, where it is commonly titled African marigold. Of this there are the following varieties: 1. Pale yellow, or brim-stone colour, with single, double, and fistulous flowers. 2. Deep yellow, with single, double, and fistulous flowers. 3. Orange-coloured, with single, double, and fistulous flowers. 4. Middling African, with orange-coloured flowers. 5. Sweet-scented African. These are all very subject to vary; so that unless the seeds are very carefully saved from the finest flowers, they are apt to degenerate: nor should their seeds be too long sown in the same garden without changing
it, for the same reason; therefore, those who are desirous to have these flowers in perfection, should exchange their seeds with some person of integrity at a distance where the soil is of a different nature, at least every other year. If this is done, the varieties may be continued in perfection. This plant is so well known as to need no description. It flowers from the beginning of July till the frost puts a stop to it.
2. The patula, grows naturally in Mexico, but has been long in the British gardens, where it is distinguished from the first by the title of French marigold. Of this there are several varieties, some of which have much larger flowers than others, and their colour varies greatly: there are some which are beautifully variegated, and others quite plain; but as these are accidents arising from culture, so
so they do not merit farther distinction; for we have always found that seeds saved from the most beautiful flowers will degenerate, especially if they are sown in the same garden for two or three years together, without changing the seed.
These plants are annual, so must be propagated from seeds every spring, which may be sown upon a moderate hot-bed the beginning of April: and when the plants are come up, they should have plenty of fresh air; for if they are drawn too much, they will not afterward become handsome, notwithstanding they have all possible care taken of them. When they are about three inches high, they should be transplanted on a very moderate hot-bed, which may be arched over with hoops and covered with mats, for these plants are hardy enough to be brought up without glasses: in this bed they should be planted about six inches asunder each way, observing to water and shade them until they have taken root; but as the plants acquire strength, they should be inured to bear the open air by degrees; and about the end of May they should be taken up with a ball of earth to the root of each plant, and planted into the borders of the parterre-garden, or into pots, for furnishing the courts, &c. shading them carefully from the sun till they have taken new root, and also supplying them duly with water. When their flowers appear, if any should prove single, the plants should be destroyed, and then those in pots may be removed to the court, where the several varieties, being intermixed with other annual plants, afford an agreeable variety.
These plants have a strong disagreeable scent, especially when handled; for which reason they are not so greatly esteemed for planting near habitations: but the flowers of the sweet-scented sort being more agreeable, are generally preferred, especially for planting in small gardens.