MIGNIONETTE. 
other allied genera, were all consid- 
ered to belong to Mespilus. Now, 
however, the genus Mespilus is con- 
fined to the two kinds of Medlars ; 
and even of these, M. grandiflora 
seems rather doubtful. Méspilus 
germanica, the common Medlar, and 
its varieties, are now, therefore, the 
sole support of this once extensive 
genus; and they are not only trees 
of considerable size, but trees that, 
notwithstanding their large white 
blossoms, are too coarse-growing to 
be called ornamental. 
Merrost'peros. — Myrtaceae. — 
Australian and Cape shrubs, with 
tassel-like flowers, nearly allied to 
Melaleuca. One species (M. ve- 
rus), the Ironwood, is a tree, and 
a native of the East Indies. The 
most beautiful of the Australian 
shrubs formerly considered as be- 
longing to this genus, are now re- 
moved to the genus Callistemon ; 
and these have generally crimson 
flowers. The remaining species 
are generally kept in a greenhouse 
in England, but they may be grown 
in the open air, if they are slightly 
protected during winter; and in 
sheltered situations they will indeed 
often stand several years without 
any protection whatever. They 
should be grown in a mixture of 
sandy loam and peat, but any com- 
mon garden soil will do; and when 
grown in the open air, they should 
be trained against a wall. They 
are propagated by cuttings of the 
ripened wood, which cannot be 
struck without the help of sand, 
bottom-heat, and a bell-glass. 
Mientonette.—Reéseda odorata. 
—This well-known plant is gene- 
rally considered as an annual, and 
sown every year as such; but it is, 
in fact, a shrub, and if preserved 
carefully through the winter, in two 
or three years its stem will become 
quite woody. In this state it is 
called the Tree Mignionette, and is 
supposed by many to be a different 
28 
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i MIGNIONETTE. 
species. It is a native of Barbary, 
and grows wild on the sandy shore 
of Algiers. The name Mignionette, 
which is French for “the little 
darling,’ is supposed to have been 
given to it on account of its seeds 
having been first sent to England 
from Paris. It is rather singular, 
however, that it should be known 
by a French name in England, while 
in France it is called by its Latin 
name of Reseda. 
Mignionette should always be 
sown in light, sandy soil, if possi- 
ble; as, when grown in arich loam, 
it loses its fragrance. With a little 
management, it may be contrived 
to have Mignionette in flower every 
month during the year, without the 
aid of either a regular gardener or 
a hothouse. In order that the plants 
may flower in winter, the seed 
should be sown in the open border 
in July. Or, if it be more conve- 
nient, the seeds may be sown in 
pots in that month, placing the pots 
in a balcony, outside a window, or 
in any situation where they will 
have abundance of light and air. 
In September, the plants should be 
removed to the pots in which they 
are to flower, and only a sufficient 
number left in each to make the 
pots look full without the plants 
being so crowded as to occasion 
them to be drawn up. This num- 
ker must, of course, vary according 
to the size of the pot; but it should 
never exceed eight, or be less than 
three. The pots should then be 
taken into the house, and placed in 
any convenient situation in a room 
without a fire, till they have formed 
their blossom-buds, which will be 
the latter end of October, when 
they should be removed to a win- 
dow in a room where there is a fire ; 
when they will throw out abun- 
dance of branches, and will continue 
flowering beautifully during No- 
vember, December, and January ; 
and, if they are regularly watered 
