30 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLExMAN GARDENER 



without any pinching at all. Malope has a very branching 

 habit, and the plants are covered with bloom all the summer. 

 As the growths are brittle, staking must be done early and 

 with more than usual care. The plants grow so bushy 

 that i ft. apart each way is none too much though 9 ms. 

 will suffice. The colours are brilliant. 

 Good Variety. 



Malope Grandiflora (crimson) 2 ft. 



Mignonette : We have already referred to this in the 

 preceding chapter. Seed sown out of doors must be in a 

 warm corner, and the soil must be made very firm as the 

 seed is exceedingly small. Just cover very lightly with 

 soil, and water, and when the plants come up, thin out to 

 6 ins. apart each way. In exposed gardens it is better to 

 sow in boxes or pots in frames in March, pricking off in 

 April, and planting out 6-9 ins. apart each way in May. 

 Good " specimen " plants are easily grown. Mignonette 

 must have plenty of water in dry summer weather. 



Good Varieties. 

 Mignonette 



Large-Flowered i ft. 



Gabrielle i^ ft. 



Machet ;W' I ft. 



Prizetaker / r I ft. 



Nasturtium : The tall Nasturtiums are to my mind out 

 of place in any small garden. We call them Hardy Annuals, 

 but they differ very widely from most of the other plants 

 described in this chapter, and should strictly be termed 

 half-hardy climbers. For covering banks, unsightly 

 rubbish heaps, tree stumps, and other like purposes they 

 are splendid, but in the ordinary border they soon smother 

 everything near. But to the Tom Thumb varieties, many 

 of which grow only i ft. high, I can give well deserved praise. 

 Good sorts are King of Tom Thumbs, Ruby King, Golden 

 King, and Ladybird. These nasturtiums should be planted 

 in poor soil. Raise them in a frame in March, and do not 

 plant out till late May for they feel late frosts. Keep the 

 water-pot going till they are established, and in dry weather. 



