222 



THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



themselves. As soon as the seed- 

 leaves are fully developed, thin out 

 the plants, leaving at this time ten or 

 twelve in eat-h pot ; this number 

 should be retained, as they are liable 

 to damp ofFif over-watered, and espe- 

 cially if the weather should happen to 

 be dull. When they have made three 

 or four leaves, thin them out to five 

 plants, which number is sufficient for 

 a 48-sized pot ; at the same time stir 

 the surface of the soil, which often 

 becomes caked by continual watering, 

 and thereby prevents the access of air 

 to the roots. When the sun begins 

 to act powerfully upon them, a tliin 

 shading for a few hours during the 

 heat of the day will be of great ser- 

 vice, by obstructing its rays, which 

 give to the foliage a yellow and un- 

 sightly appearance. When they have 

 grown three or four inches, they will 

 require to be tied up, to prevent them 

 from falling over the sides of the pot. 

 In doing tliis, place five small stakes 

 at equal distances close by the edge of 

 the pot ; then pass a strip of matting 

 with a turn round each of the stakes, 

 and fasten it : it is necessary to leave 

 the stakes two or three inches higher 

 than the plants, as I have found them 

 sometimes to require a second tie. If 

 the roots at that time have found 

 their way through the bottom of the 

 pot, they must be broken off, or the 

 plants will receive a severe check 

 when finally removed. In re-plung- 

 ing them, give them sufficient room 

 to prevent their being drawn. They 

 will require little more attention, be- 

 sides giving plenty of air, watering, 

 and shading, till the middle of May, 

 when they will be in good condition 

 for removing to the conservatory. 



The next sowing will require to be 

 made about the beginning of April. 

 The same compost as previously re- 

 commended should be used. For this 

 sowing, however, I would prefer 32- 

 sized pots, and would allow seven 

 plants to remain in each : by thus 

 having agreaterbody of soil, it will be 

 found to retain moisture for a greater 

 length of time, and the plants will not 

 be so liable to receive any check by an 

 accidental omission of watering. In 

 other respects, the treatment already 

 detailed ehovdd be followed. By the 



middle of May, if the frames should 

 be wanted for other purposes, the pots 

 may be plunged in a shady place out of 

 doors. They will come into bloom 

 about the beginning of July. Other 

 successional sowings should be made 

 about the beginning of June and the 

 beginning of August. These may bo 

 plunged in a sheltered spot out of 

 doors ; and, with attention to water- 

 ing, thinning, and tying up, as pre- 

 viously directed, they will come into 

 bloom respectively about the middle 

 of August and the end of October. 

 The latter of these sowing's must be 

 removed to a frame as soon as danger 

 from frosts may be apprehended. 



The next sowing, which is to pro- 

 vide plants for blooming through the 

 winter months, must be made about 

 the middle of September. A little 

 more attention is necessary at this 

 season of the year, in order to pre- 

 vent them from damping off, and also 

 to secure as much of the sun's rays as 

 possible. The soil I would recom- 

 mend for this sowing consists of three 

 parts of loam, one part of dung, and 

 one part of leaf-mould. ISly reason 

 for using more loam at this season is, 

 because the compost then retains 

 moisture longer than if a less propor- 

 tion were employed ; and thus the 

 necessity of frequent applications of 

 water is in great measure done away. 

 In dull weather mignonette is very 

 impatient of water ; and, when it is 

 applied, it should be done in the 

 morning, in order that the foliage may 

 become dry before night. For this 

 sowing I would use 48-sized pots, 

 giving them a good drainage. 



In preparing the frame for their 

 reception, it should be raised behind, 

 so as to give it a good inclination to- 

 wards the south, for the jmrpose of 

 gaining the full benefit of the sun, 

 and also of prevent ii'g drips, which 

 arevery injurious, as the plants seldom 

 recover from checks occasioned by 

 their becoming very wet. The bottom 

 of the frame should be covered with 

 brick rubbish, and over this there 

 should be a stratum of rough coal 

 ashes, and again, on the top, six 

 inches of finely sifted ashes. This 

 must be arranged so that, when the 

 pots are plunged, they may not be 



