364 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Micromyrtus continued. 



Leaves opposite, small, entire. Probably the species de- 

 scribed below is the only one yet introduced. It requires 

 similar treatment to that recommended for Myrtus 

 (which see). 

 M. microphylla (small-leaved), fl. white, small, nearly sessile 



in the upper axils, usually forming little racemes on the smaller 



branches; petals spreading, persistent or deciduous. 1870. 



Habit erect or diffuse and much-branched. 



MICROSORJUM. The plants formerly referred 

 here are now divided, by Hooker and Baker, between 

 Nephrodium and Polyp odium (which see). 



MICROSFERMA. Included under Mentzelia 

 (which see). 



MICROSTAPHYLA. Included under Acrostichum. 

 MICROSTEPHIUM. Included under Cryptostemma. 

 MICROSTYLIS (from mikros, small, and stylos, a 

 column ; in allusion to the size of the column). STNS. 

 Achroanthes, Crepidium, Pedilea, Pterochilus. OBD. 

 Orchidece. A genus comprising about forty species of 

 stove terrestrial orchids, natives of Europe, Asia, and 

 North and South America. They are allied to Malaxis, 

 but distinguished from that genus by the lip being at 

 right angles with the column. Flowers small, usually 

 greenish or yellow. Leaves membranaceous or plicate. 

 For culture, see Liparia. 



M. calophylla (beautiful-leaved).* fl. yeUow ; peduncles rather 

 strong, bearing a raceme about 6in. long. Z. ovate, yellowish- 

 green, prettily bordered, striped with brown. Pseudo-bulb 

 conical. Indian Archipelago, 1879. 



M. chlorophrys (green-leaved). /. purple, with the ears of the 

 sagittate Tip ochre-coloured ; racemes few-flowered. I. oblong, 

 acute, greenish above, and light purple beneath. Borneo, 1881. 

 M. discolor (two-coloured).* /. yellow, changing to orange, small, 

 on short upright peduncles. I. deep reddish-purple, edged with 

 green, plaited longitudinally, and much crisped at the margin. 

 Ceylon, 1863. This species is characterised as among the most 

 lovely of terrestrial orchids. The flowers, though minute, 

 exhibit great singularity of structure when seen under the 

 microscope. (B. M. 5403.) 



M. histionantha (sail-flowered), fl. brownish-green, in a com- 

 pact concave umbel ; sepals reflexed, oblong ; petals minute ; 

 column short, with obtuse horns. I. two from a broad-ovate or 

 rounded tuber, ovate and membranaceous, with their sheathing 

 bases forming a long tube around the base of the much-angled 

 scape. Columbia. (B. M. 4103.) 



M. Josephlana (Sir Joseph Hooker's), fl. yellow, small, disposed 

 in terminal racemes. May. I. broadly ovate, greenish-brown. 

 Pseudo-bulbs oblong, h. 1ft. Sikkim, 1877. (B. M. 6325.) 

 M. metallica (metallic).* fl., odd sepal yellow, lateral sepals one 

 side rose, the other yellow ; petals light rose ; peduncle violet, 

 with a long raceme of numerous, rather long-stalked, blossoms. 

 I. oblong-acute, of a light rose underneath, blackish-purple above, 

 with an exquisite metallic lustre. Pseudo-bulbs cylindrical 

 Borneo, 1879. 



M. ventilabrum (large-lipped), fl. yellow, with a large square 

 lip, sagittate at the base, and seven to nine-toothed at top. 

 I. light green, with brownish-tinted veins. Sunda Isles, 1882. A 

 fine species. 



M. versicolor (various-coloured), fl. various-coloured. June to 

 October. 1. ovate-lanceolate. A. 1ft China, 1830. (L. B. C. 

 1751.) 



MIDRIB. The middle vein of a leaf, which passes 

 from the petiole to the apex. 



MIGNONETTE (Reseda odorata). This well-known 

 fragrant little plant is one of the most popular subjects 

 in gardens of every description. Even persons limited to 

 the space of a window-sill may grow some in summer, 

 either in a box or in pots, provided the situation is not 

 too hot. Mignonette does not succeed so well when 

 exposed to heat as it does if kept comparatively cool, the 

 tendency, under the former conditions, being to produce 

 seeds, and this renders the flowering period a short one. 

 It is most largely cultivated from seed, but healthy 

 cuttings may be readily rooted if it is desired to per- 

 petuate any specially good form or variety. Outdoor cul- 

 ture in summer is of the simplest description. Seeds 

 Bhould be sown thinly, in shallow drills, or in any other 

 way desired, during April and May, and be lightly covered 



Mignonette continued. 



with soil. When the young plants appear, and are 

 large enough to handle, they should be thinned out, 

 as this induces a much stronger growth in those left. 

 These plants will flower in June and the two following 

 months. Another later sowing should be made about 

 July, for producing an autumn supply. Mignonette 

 prefers a rich, rather heavy soil, and a cooL moist 

 situation. If sown in poor, light ground, and in a posi- 

 tion exposed to hot sunshine, the seeds possibly will 

 not grow at all, or, if they do, the plants will be far in- 

 ferior to those which can be' treated more in accordance 

 with their requirements. Watering must be freely prac- 

 tised throughout the summer, especially if the weather 

 be more than usually dry. The flowers of Mignonette 

 are amongst the most useful for cutting, as the racemes 

 last so long in water, and emit an agreeable perfume. 



Culture in Pots. Mignonette is most extensively cul- 

 tivated in pots for winter and spring decoration of green- 

 houses, rooms, &c., its requirements being more fully met, 

 as previously stated, by the cooler temperature then 

 experienced. Tall standard plants are preferred by some 

 cultivators, and seeds for their production are sown in 

 small pots soon after midsummer, or sometimes long pre- 

 vious to this. The best plant in each pot is selected and 

 grown on in an upright direction, the other smaller ones 

 being removed at an early stage. Repotting may be 

 practised as growth proceeds, until Sin. or 9in. pots are 

 reached, if very large plants are desired. Careful training 

 and watering are most necessary, as the shoots are very 

 brittle, and, although the roots generally require plenty of 

 water, anything approaching stagnancy is fatal. Mignonette 

 is far more useful, and is extensively cultivated, for spring 

 flowering in Sin. or 6in. pots. Seeds for the supply should 

 be sown in the latter part of August, and again for a 

 succession in September, using the pots wherein they are 

 intended to grow and flower. The compost used should 

 consist of about two parts loam, one of dried cow manure, 

 and another of old sifted mortar rubbish. The latter 

 ingredient is a most important one for this plant, and the 

 addition of a little soot is also beneficial. All the pots used 

 should be clean, dry, and properly drained. It does not 

 matter how hard the compost is packed into them, provided 

 it is united in a solid mass, and not rammed in layers. A 

 few seeds should be distributed evenly over the surface, 

 and lightly covered with a little sifted soil, similar to that 

 of the bulk. The pots should then be watered, and placed 

 in a shallow, cold frame, on a bottom of coal ashes, where 

 they may remain until October, plenty of air being 

 admitted in the meantime, and the plants thinned to 

 about lin. apart, when they are large enough to select the 

 best. For winter quarters, the best place is a shelf near 

 the glass in any light, airy house where such plants as 

 Carnations, Bouvardias, &c., are grown, and a temperature 

 of 50deg. to 55deg., with ventilation, is maintained. Fail- 

 ing such provision for Mignonette in houses, it is better to 

 make the best of frames than to subject the plants to a 

 high temperature, or close atmosphere both most 

 destructive to their well-being, and the prime causes of 

 failure. Each plant must be provided with a small stick 

 before it gets large enough to fall about, and from five to 

 eight will be plenty for the size of pots above-mentioned. 

 Water should only be sparely applied in winter, but never 

 entirely withheld. As the days lengthen, the plants will 

 start into growth freely, and then water may be given in 

 abundance, even to the use of saucers in spring. When 

 the flowers begin to expand, a little artificial manure, 

 mixed with its bulk of dry loam, should be applied to the 

 soil's surface, about once a week. This will materially 

 assist in developing and lengthening the racemes. 



Seed Saving. When Mignonette is only required for 

 outside cultivation, or for cutting, it is not of so much 

 importance whether the variety or strain represents 

 its true characters or not, provided the plants are 



