364 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
* 
Micromyrtus—continued. 
Leaves opposite, small, entire. Probably the species de- 
scribed below is the only one yet introduced. It requires 
similar treatment to that recommended for Myrtus 
(which see). 
M. microphylla (small-leaved). , white, small, nearly sessile 
in the upper axils, usually forming little racemes on the smaller 
branches; petals sp ing, persistent or deciduous. 1870. 
Habit erect or diffuse and much-branched. 
MICROSORIUM. The plants formerly referred 
here are now divided, by Hooker and Baker, between 
Nephrodium and Polypodium (which see). 
MICROSPERMA. Included under Mentzelia 
(which see). 
MICROSTAPHYLA. Included under Acrostichum. 
MICROSTEPHIUM. Included under Cryptostemma. 
MICROSTYLIS (from mikros, small, and stylos, a 
column; in allusion to the size of the column). SxNs. 
Achroanthes, Crepidium, Pedilea, Pterochilus. ORD. 
Orchidew. A genus comprising about forty species of 
stove terrestrial orchids, natives of Europe, Asia, and 
North and South America. They are allied to Malazis, 
but distinguished from that genus by the lip being at 
right angles with the column. Flowers small, usually 
greenish or yellow. Leaves membranaceous or plicate. 
For culture, see Liparis. 
beautiful-leaved).* fl. -< 
. ra oa 
green, prettily bordered, stri 
with brown. Pseudo-bulb 
conical. Indian Archipelago, 
acute, h above, and light purple beneath. Borneo, 1881. 
M. discolor (two-coloured).* jl. yellow, e to orange, small, 
on short upright peduncles. l. deep reddish-purple, edged with 
green, tudinally, and much crisped at the margin. 
Ceylon, 1863. This is characterised as among the most 
lovely of terrestrial orchids. The flowers, though minute, 
exhibit great singularity of structure when 
M. histionantha (sail-flowered). fl. brownish-green, in a com- 
pact concave umbel; sepals reflexed, oblong ; minute; 
column short, with obtuse horns. l. two fe a -ovate or 
rounded tuber, ovate and membranaceous, with their sheathin 
bases forming a long tube around the base of the Much-angled 
MB. M. 4105.) 
scupe. Columbia. 
M. J (Sir Joseph Hooker’s). f. yellow, small, disposed 
in terminal racemes. y. I. broadly ovate, greenish-brown. 
Pseudo-bulbs oblong. A. 1ft. Sikkim, 1877. (B. M. 6325.) 
M. metallica (metallic).“ fl., odd sepal yellow, lateral sepals on 
side rose, the other yellow; petals light rose; peduncle vies, 
with a long raceme of numerous, rather long-stalked, blossoms. 
l. oblong-acute, of a light rose underneath, blackish-purple above, 
with an exquisite metallic lustre. Pseudo-bulbs cylindrical. 
M. ventilabrum (large-lipped). AH. yellow, with a large square 
lip, sagittate at the base, and seven to nine-toothed at top. 
An green, with brownish-tinted veins, Sunda Isles, 1882. A 
species. 
M. versicolor (various-coloured). 
October, l. ovate-lanceolate. M. lft. 
1751.) 
MIDRIB. The middle vein of a leaf, which passes 
from the petiole to the apex. 
MIGNONETTE (Reseda odorata). This well-known 
fragrant little plant is one of the most popular subjects 
. gardens of every description. Even persons limited to 
the space of a window-sill may grow some in summer, 
in a box or in pots, provided the situation is not 
oo hot. .Mignonette does not succeed so well when 
heat as it does if kept comparatively cool, the 
under the former conditions, being to produce 
renders the flowering period a short one. 
y cultivated from seed, but healthy 
ly rooted if it is desired to per- 
form or variety. Outdoor cul- 
simplest description. Seeds 
shallow drills, or in any other 
May, and be lightly covered 
e 
fl. vatious-colourbd, June to 
. lft. China, 1830. (I. B. C. 
M. eta fp (green-leaved). . purple, with the ears of the 
sagittate ochre-coloured ; aA toy vee beat ef l. oblong, 
seen under the | 
Water, anything approaching stagnancy is fatal. Mignonette 
and another of old sifted mortar rubbish. 
Mignonette—continued. 
with soil. When the young plants appear, and are 
large enough to handle, they should be thinned out, 
as this induces a much stronger growth in those left. 
These plants will flower in June and the two following 
months. Another later sowing should be made about 
July, for producing an autumn supply. Mignonette 
prefers a rich, rather heavy soil, and a cool, moist 
situation. If sown in poor, light ground, and in a posi- 
tion exposed to hot sunshine, the seeds possibly will 
not grow at all, or, if they do, the plants will be far in- 
ferior to those which can be treated more in accordance 
with their requirements. Watering must be freely prac- 
tised ‘throughout the summer, especially if the weather 
be more than usually dry. The flowers of Mignonette 
are amongst the most useful for cutting, as the racemes 
last so long in water, and emit an agreeable perfume. 
Culture in Pots. Mignonette is most extensively cul- 
tivated in pots for winter and spring decoration of green- 
houses, rooms, &., its requirements being more fully met, 
as previously stated, by the cooler temperature then 
experienced. Tall standard plants are preferred by some 
cultivators, and seeds for their production are sown in 
small pots soon after midsummer, or sometimes long pre- 
vious to this. The best plant in each pot is selected and 
grown on in an upright direction, the other smaller ones 
being removed at an early stage. Repotting may be 
practised as growth proceeds, until 8in. or 9in. pots are 
reached, if very large plants are desired. Careful training 
and watering are most necessary, as the shoots are very 
brittle, and, although the roots generally require plenty of 
is far more useful, and is extensively cultivated, for spring 
flowering in 5in. or 6in. pots. Seeds for the supply should 
be sown in the latter part of August, and again for a 
succession in September, using the pots wherein they are 
intended to grow and flower. The compost used should 
consist of about,two parts loam, one of dried cow manure, 
a The latter 
ingredient is a most important one for this plant, and the 
addition of a little soot is also beneficial. All the pots used 
should be clean, dry, and properly drained. It does not 
matter how hard the compost is packed into them, provided 
it is united in a solid mass, and not rammed in layers. A 
few seeds should be distributed evenly over the surface, 
and lightly covered with a little sifted soil, similar to that 
of the bulk. The pots should then be watered, and placed 
in a shallow, cold frame, on a bottom of coal ashes, where 
they may remain until October, plenty of air being 
admitted in the meantime, and the plants thinned to 
about lin. apart, when they are large enough to select the 
best. For winter quarters, the best place is a shelf near 
the glass in any light, airy house where such plants as 
Carnations, Bouvardias, &c., are grown, and a temperature 
of 50deg. to 55deg., with ventilation, is maintained. Fail- 
ing such provision for Mignonette in houses, it is better to 
make the best of frames than to subject the plants toa 
high temperature, or close atmosphere — both most 
destructive to their well-being, and the prime causes of 
failure. Each plant must be provided with a small stick 
before it gets large enough to fall about, and from five to 
eight will be plenty for the size of pots above-mentioned. 4 
Water should only be sparely applied in winter, but never a 
entirely withheld. As the days lengthen, the plants will 
start into growth freely, and then water may be given in 
abundance, even to the use of saucers in spring. When 
the flowers begin to expand, a little artificial manure, 
mixed with its bulk of dry loam, should be applied to the 
soil’s surface, about once a week. This will materially 
assist in developing and lengthening the racemes. 
Seed Saving. When Mignonette is only required for 
outside cultivation, or for cutting, it is not of so much 
importance whether the variety or strain represents 
its true characters or not, provided the plants are 
