300 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



436. Pinching. When the plants are from four to 

 five inches tall, they should be pinched, and the side 

 shoots allowed to develop. When they have grown to a 

 height of six or seven inches, they should be staked and 

 tied, and again pinched back to encourage branching. 

 The large flower spikes are not desired in pot grown plants, 

 but a greater number of smaller spikes. Pinching makes 

 the plants much more symmetrical. When the plants 

 are in flower, they should be in seven- or eight-inch pots. 



437. Outdoor culture. As a garden flower, the 

 mignonette is by no means showy, but its delicate fra- 

 grance makes it popular. It requires a cool, well-drained 

 soil and one which is moderately rich in decayed organic 

 matter. It does not like the full sunlight, so should be 

 given a spot in the garden which is shaded a part of the 

 day. The seed should be sown late in April, and a second 

 sowing may be made early in July, so that the season of 

 bloom be extended until the time of severe frosts. 



ANTIRRHINUMS 



438. Botanical classification. Order, Scrophulari- 

 aceae ; genus, Antirrhinum (Greek for snout-flower) ; 

 species, majus. The species is divided into three groups : 

 the giant or tall growing; the semi-dwarf; and the 

 dwarf or Tom Thumb. The first section grows about 

 three feet high, out of doors, and as high as six feet under 

 glass. The semi-dwarf grows from twelve to fourteen 

 inches high out of doors, and to three feet high under 

 glass. The dwarf varieties grow about six inches high, 

 and are used principally for bedding (Fig. 30). 



439. Botanical characters. Snapdragons are her- 

 baceous perennials, but under cultivation they become 



