86 BOUVAKDIAS. — MIGNONETTE. 



place, and when the plants are nearly large enough to pot off, I have 

 the bell-glass raised up a little in order to inure them to full exposure. 

 I never pour water over the surface of .the soil whilst they are in the 

 seed-pot, as certain destruction would be the result. 



In potting, care is taken to Iiave all the small roots, and if a portion 

 of the soil with each plant, the better. I use sand, peat, and loam, 

 equal parts, and liave a liberal drainage. I keep the plants in the liot- 

 bed frame, or in my forcing peat, heated on the tank system, and con- 

 sequently have a moist atmospliere. The plants are re-potted as the 

 roots fill the pots, and when (in the hot-bed) they have attained a size 

 requiring removal elsewhere, I place them in my pit, or plant stove ; 

 and when they become vigorous I have them placed in my greenhouse, 

 which has a span roof, and there they bloom beautifully, and become 

 charming ornament, forming compact bushes, not loose and robust, 

 but neat. The Gloxinia-like flowers, produced in erect panicled 

 racemes, of a deep purplish-red, with a yellow throat, are highly 

 fragrant, perfuming the air to some distance with the sweetness of 

 violets. It is every way worthy of cultivation. 



BOUVARDIAS. 



These handsome flower-garden plants may be rapidly increased by 

 taking the principal, in February, and cutting tliem into lengths of 

 about two inches ; they should then be planted around the sides of a 

 sufficient number of pots and be plunged in a hot-bed. Wiien they 

 have sprouted, they may be potted singly into small pots : and being 

 encouraged to grow in a warm house or frame, will make strong plants 

 by May, when they should be hardened, and planted out into beds of 

 peat soil. They make very hand.some beds in sheltered situations. 



MIGNONETTE. 



ITS CULTURE FOR WINTER BLOOM. 

 BY A LONDON AMATEUR GARDENER. 



I DEEM it a luxury to have this universally admired fragrant flower, 

 in profusion during the winter months, aud this I have enjoyed for the 

 last four winters. The following mode of treatment was given me by 

 a London nurseryman ; and by pursuing it, I have grown and flowered 

 the plants vigorously. 



My friend stated, " After four years' sowing, without the least 

 failure, I consider my system established, and by it, without the least 

 variation. Mignonette in flower by Christmas, and as strong as border 

 Mignonette. On the 20th of August I sowed one hundred pots of 

 tliirty-twos, filled with the following compost : half sandy loam, the 

 other half made up with leaf-mould and road sand, not sifted, but very 

 dry when used, and pressed into the pots to the brim. When the seeds 

 are sown, a little of the compost is sifted over them ; the pots are then 

 put into a pit or frame, and set very near _ the glass. The lights are 



