180 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the largest in some, and the smallest in others. This will give a 

 longer succession of bloom ; and, if at any time one sowing is likely 

 to be over before the next is ready, pinch out the tops of a few of 

 them when they are beginning to flower : this will cause them to 

 break out again, and bloom three weeks or a month later than the 

 others of the same sowing. 



The cultivation of Mignonette in boxes differs so little from that 

 in pots, and boxes being seldom used, except to stand in particular 

 situations out of doors, it is unnecessary to say much on that head ; 

 but when they are used, the same sort of soil that has been recom- 

 mended for summer use will suit them very well. I would, however, 

 prefer to grow it in pots till it begins to flower, and afterwards to 

 plant it into the boxes, where it will continue to branch out and 

 flower for a long time. When it has done blooming, these may (if 

 wanted) be filled again in the same manner, and thus a constant 

 succession will be kept up. D. D. 



GLEAMNGS FROM FRENCH GARDENS. 



ESSRS. WARNE and Co. have just published a work, by Mr. W. Robin- 

 son, F.L.S., bearing the title given above. The author needs no 

 introduction to our readers, for the pages of the Flokal World have 

 jj many a time been enriched with the productions of his pen. Mr. Robin- 

 son had seen much good practice in English and Irish gardens, and had 

 filled a responsible office in the Royal Botanic Gardens, ere he started for France to 

 collect materials for this work. There he observed, inquired, travelled, compared, 

 made notes, during upwards of twelve months, and now he gives us the result in as 

 elegant and entertaining a book as one could wish for on such a subject. To say 

 that we are delighted with it is to express ourselves very feebly. We are, in fact, 

 not only delighted, but surprised; and doubtless many a reader of it will be surprised 

 to find, that at a distance of but a few hours' travel from these shores, horticulture 

 should, in many departments, present aspects so different to those we are accustomed 

 to. Mr. Robinson's object is chiefly to direct attention to such features of French 

 horticulture as are most worthy of adoption in British gardens. Accordingly, the 

 subjects are selected with a view to show how our own practice may be expanded 

 or improved ; and the fruit garden claims the principal share of attention. But let 

 no one suppose that the book is deficient of breadth ; it is quite otherwise. For 

 example, there are chapters on subti'opical plants, the public gardens and parks of 

 Paris, the decoration of apartments, the cultivation of the gladiolus, the orange, 

 oleander, salads, asparagus, and other subjects, which the French are especially 

 famous for ; and the various methods of training espalier fruit-trees are treated of 

 at such length, and with such delightful understandableness, that British fruits 

 ought, in a few years' time, to be increased tenfold through the influence of this 

 book alone. We do not agree with every word herein, but this vague qualification 

 of our praise will be quite enough, for the simple reason that we agree with so 

 much, and so thoroughly admire the labours of our gifted friend, that v/e cannot 

 find patience to discover what there is in all the 290 pages to take exception to. 

 The following will serve £s a fair sample of the contents for such as like to taste 

 before they buy : — 



Culture of the Orange. — The Orange is propagated by grafting on the stock 

 raised from seeds of Citrus Medica (the Common Citron), or from those raised 

 from seeds of the Common Bitter Orange. For the trade, plants grafted on the 

 lemon stock are the most suitable, the lemon growing more vigorously than the 

 wild orange tree ; but to secure the plant long life, the latter is the most prefer- 

 able. The reason of this will be easily understood ; the diflference between the 

 lemon and orange trees is much the same as between the quince and wild pear 



