GARDEN FLOWERS. 319 



them. The Mignonette may be had in bloom all the year 

 round by a succession of sowings. A sowing in July brings 

 plants that flower from November till March ; a sowing the 

 first week in September will carr}^ on the blooming from 

 March to July ; and the spring-sown ones will do the rest. 

 No frost must reach the pots in the winter-time, and the 

 earth must be occasionally stirred upon the surface to let in 

 the air. 



R. odorata (scented mignonette) ; hardy annual ; i foot ; flow- 

 ers greenish, all summer ; North Africa ; 1752. 



There are many other species ; but they are of little value 

 in the garden. 



Restharrow. See Ononis. 



Rhamnus. Buckthorn. [Rhamnacese.] The most im- 

 portant garden plant of this family is the well-known hedge 

 plant R. catharticus. There are many other species. 



Rheum. Rhubarb. [Polygonaceae.] Hardy perennials 

 of coarse habit, but having a fine effect in rough borders, 

 and in situations where bold-looking striking plants are 

 desirable. Good garden soil. Increased by division or 

 seeds. 



Rhodanthe. [Compositse.] A beautiful little half-hardy 

 annual, whose flowers are like so many pink stars sprinkled 

 all over the branches, and, when well grown, as delicate as 

 the most elegant artificial flowers ; the petals are stiff and 

 dry, and, if gathered when in good order, the flowers may 

 be classed among those vulgarly called " everlasting." The 

 soil adapted best for its healthy culture is a compost of loam, 

 decomposed cow-dung, turfy peat, and sand ; two parts of 

 the loam, and one of each of the rest, well incorporated, 

 and passed through a coarse sieve. In a shallow pan of 

 this compost, gently compressed by striking the pan on the 

 table, and levelled even with the edge, the seeds should be 



