THE FLOKAL WORLD AI^B GARDEN GUIDE. 



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means large, as there were no prizes 

 offered i'or grapes, and but few for 

 any other kind of fruit. There was 

 a good display of apples, pears, plums, 

 peaches, and other autumn fruits, a 

 few good pines, and several excellent 

 melons. Messrs. Lucombe, Pince,- 

 and Co., of Exeter, exhibited a seed- 

 ling called " Mrs. Pince's Black Mus- 

 cat," the bunch well shouldered, and 

 of fair size. The berry is about the 

 same size and shape as a first-class 

 sample of Muscat Hamburg ; the flesh 

 is sweet, juicy, and luscious, and has 

 a fine Muscat flavour. The society 

 exhibited a collection of grapes grown 

 at Chiswick, comprising, of white 

 grapes, White Frontignan, Chasselas 

 JSouchet, Ward's Early, Trebbiano, 



Muscat of Alexandria, Golden Ham- 

 burg, Ptoyal Muscadine, lleeves' 

 Muscadine, White Nice, and Ah- 

 bee. The last is a most beau- 

 tiful grape, owing to the soft rosy 

 blush which overspreads the bunch, 

 but it is only second-class in flavour. 

 Of black grapes there were fine sam- 

 ples of Black Muscat, Noir de Jura, 

 Morocco Prince, De CandoUe (colour 

 reddish bronze). Black Prince, Black 

 Moiiukkn, Tokay des Jardins, Frank- 

 enthal. Black Hamburg, Catilanesi 

 Nera, Strawberry Scented, Mill Hill 

 Hamburg, \nolet Frontignan, Espe- 

 rione, Buckland's, Barbarossa, Muscat 

 Hamburg, Oldaker's We.-t's St. 

 Peter's, G-ros Colman, Dutch Han^- 

 burg, and Charles liose de Falloux. 



CULTIVATION OF MIGNONETTE IN POTS. 



Amoxgst all the odoriferous plants 

 which are cultivated for decorating 

 the conservatory and the drawing- 

 room, there is none more universally 

 admired or more easily cultivated 

 than the mignonette ; and yet it is sel- 

 dom that we see it brought to that 

 perfection of which it is capable, more 

 especially during the winter and 

 spring months. 



Reseda odorata, or the Mignonette, 

 is a native of Egvpt ; it is, under ordi- 

 nary treatment, an annual plant, grow- 

 ing from six inches to a foot in height, 

 and is hardy enough to stand this cli- 

 mate during the summer months ; but 

 it will not survive our ordinary win- 

 ters, unless in some very sheltered 

 situations. In order, therefore, to 

 obtain a regular succession recourse 

 must be had to pot or box culture, 

 which will form the subject of the fol- 

 lowing remarks. 



The beginningof February is early 

 enough to make the first sowing for a 

 spring supply. The soil which should 

 be used should consist of one half 

 loam, one fourth part dung, and one 

 fourth part leaf-mould, well mixed 

 together, and used in as rough a state 

 as possible : the worms (if any should 

 be in the soil) ought to be carefully 

 picked out, or they will cause great 

 injury to the plants, by stopping the 

 drainage and disturbing the roots. 



The pots known as "forty-eights" 

 will be large enough for this sowing ; 

 and these should be prepared by 

 placing a crock over the hole in the 

 bottom, and laying oq this about two 

 inches of the roughest of the soil, after 

 which they should be filled with soil, 

 pressed evenly and firmly, leaving the 

 surface level within half an inch of the 

 rim. On this the seed should be sown 

 regularly, and, if its quality can be 

 depended on, two dozen seeds will be 

 enough for each pot ; they will come 

 up stronger than if sown thicker. Sift 

 a little soil over the seeds, and give 

 this a gentle pressure with the back 

 of the hand, leaving the surface 

 smooth and even, but not " glazed ;" 

 then give a gentle watering with tepid 

 water, which will warm the soil and 

 assist germination. Plunge the pots 

 in a frame with a gentle bottom-heat, 

 and keep the lights shut till the plants 

 begin to appear ; afterwards admit a 

 little air every day, if the state of the 

 atmosphere will allow ; but at all 

 times avoid the admission of currents 

 of cold air, as I am convinced that 

 mignonette suffers severely from too 

 rash an exposure to cold winds. 

 When the plants become a little 

 inured to exposure, remove the lights 

 every fine day, which will prevent 

 them from being drawn, and better 

 enable them subsequently to support 



