OCTOBEU. 183 



It is ratlier remarkable that we in England 

 should call this floAver so exclusively by its 

 French name, from mignonne, little darhng, 

 ■when the Frenchman terms it la resede 

 d'Egypte. The Spaniards, who are also fond of 

 this tlower, retain for it the endearing name of 

 minoneta. This plant is much cultivated by 

 the gardeners who supply the London markets, 

 on account of its use for balconies; and its deli- 

 cate scent is rarely disliked. It is generally 

 thought to be a native of Egypt, and to have 

 been first sown in the gardens of the south of 

 Europe, whence it was sent into England about 

 the year 1752, when it was cultivated by Mil- 

 ler in the Botanic Garden of Chelsea, and soon 

 became a popular flower. The mignonette has 

 been found apparently Avild in some parts of 

 Barbary, but it seems probable that it may 

 have sprung up from seeds borne by Avinds or 

 other means from the ]\foorish gardens, where 

 many flowers are cultivated. The plant was 

 termed, by the ancients, reseda, {rom reseda, to 

 calm or appease ; because it was in former 

 times applied to allay the irritation accom- 

 panjang wounds. Pliny tells that it was re- 

 garded as a charm, and gives an account of a 

 superstitious form of words Avhich preceded its 

 use as a remedy. 



The tree mignonette {Reseda odorata frutes- 

 ceiis) was long considered as a species distinct 

 from the fragr'ant herb, but it is merely a variety 

 produced by the cultivator. This perennial 

 shrub retains its sweet odour during Avinter, and 



