MIGNONETTE. 59 



Growing them in the open air. — I pot, and othex-vvise promote 

 the growth of the bulbs as before-mentioned, and when the height 

 described, I turn them out of pots into the open ground, having a 

 compost nearly a foot deep, as before described. I have a very- 

 sheltered warm situation near my sitting-room, a full south aspect, 

 where they flourish well and afford a most delightful fragrance to the 

 inmates by opening the window. A south aspected border under a 

 wall, or front of a greenhouse, &c., is alike suitable. I find, M'hen 

 growing freely, a liberal supply of water is requisite. 



I have usually a few plants plunged in the borders of my pleasure- 

 ground, wliere the wallis are most frequented ; the perfume of the 

 flowers extends to a considerable distance and is delightfully agree- 

 able. 



MIGNONETTE: 



ITS WINTER CULTURE. 



Few flowers, it is observed by Mr. Whiting in the Journal of the 

 Horticultural Society, are more esteemed for bouquets in winter and 

 early spring than tlie sweet-scented Mignonette (Reseda odorata) ; it is 

 also very useful for the decoration of the drawing-room and conserva- 

 tory at those seasons of the year. Although the Mignonette is not a 

 delicate plant, yet it is not generally seen in the perfection to which it 

 might be brought by the simple method of culture I am about to 

 describe. To flower at or soon after Christmas the seed should be 

 sown in the beginning of August, in pots of any convenient size. The 

 soil should be good loam, moderately enriciied with rotten dung, and 

 kept open by a pretty liberal intermixture with old mortar or lime 

 rubbish. It is essential tiiat the pots be thoroughly drained, and upon 

 the drainage a handful (more or less, according to the size of the pots, 

 of one year old pigeon's dung sliould be placed. After sowing the 

 seed set the pots where they will not require frequent waterings, too 

 much moisture being extremely injurious to Mignonette ; for this 

 reason, therefore, it will be safer to place the pots in a frame or pit, 

 where they may be covered by the lights in rainy weather. As tlie 

 plants increase in size they should be gradually thinned, ultimately 

 leaving three or five in each pot. The principal point to be attended to 

 now is judicious watering ; by this I mean giving water only when the 

 plants really require water, and then in sufficient quantity to moisten 

 the whole of the soil — not dribbling a few drops over the plants to-day 

 to prevent them from being dry to-morrow — a practice too much 

 followed with plants in pots. Pinch oft' any premature flowers that 

 may appear, keep the pots free from weeds, and far enough asunder to 

 prevent the plants from being crowded, and when they are removed to 

 winter quarters, set them near the glass in an airy situation. A few of 

 the plants might be placed in an intermediate house, or otiier situation 

 rather warmer than a green-house, to come into bloom a little earlier 

 than the rest. I have recommended the seeds to be sown in the pots, 

 which is the method I prefer ; but if more convenient, a sufticient 

 number of self sown plants might be taken up and potted, only a few 



