202 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



The plants will thrive much better if the surface of the 

 soil is gone over frequently and kept loose, and great 

 care should be taken that no chickweed is left after the 

 plants have become too large to continue this operation, 

 as this pest luxuriates in the cool, rich border, and will 

 give yon endless trouble later on, by making a complete 

 tangle of your bed. I find, in watering mignonette, that 

 if kept moderately moist it is tougher, and will keep 

 hotter, than it' kept too wet. When planted out in a bed 

 like the one I have previously described, during the 

 winter months, one watering each month will be found 

 sufficient (if thoroughly watered), which is my plan 

 under all circumstances. A great many failures in the 

 cultivation of flowers and plants arise from the habit of 

 half watering. My plan is to soak thoroughly, and then 

 withhold water entirely until the appearance of the soil or 

 plant indicates need of more moisture. 



"I have adopted a system of 'brushing' using branches 

 such as are used for supporting peas ; only, of course, 

 of a size suitable to height of the mignonette between 

 the rows to keep the plants perpendicular, for unless they 

 have some support they will fall in every direction, and 

 the result is crooked stems and altogether too many 

 shoots. By keeping the plants as near upright as 

 possible and breaking the shoots well back in picking, 

 the number of shoots needed can be calculated very 

 easily; and the last spikes gathered in June will be 

 nearly as fine as those picked in November and December, 

 for the roots are down feeding in the cool, rich soil at 

 the bottom of the border. 



" The temperature must be low, about forty degrees at 

 night ; no matter if it touches freezing point ; give plenty 

 of air whenever the weather will permit. It will not 

 mature as fast as if kept warmer, but your spikes will be 

 all the finer, and you will find a steady demand and 

 ready sale. I don't know any plant that 'mixes' as 



