178 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



removed and the roots that have struck through into the 

 ground are broken off, because the plant has depended on 

 them for all its extra growth. It has been found the best 

 plan to place the pots on a hard bottom, paved, cemented, 

 bricked, slated, tiled, or otherwise firm and waterproof; to 

 place them as close together as they will stand, in breadths 

 of six feet and any length, with the ends south and north, 

 and the sides of course, east and west. If they are to 

 remain in the same situation all the Summer it will be worth 

 while to pack them, as it were, in ashes, gravel, or naturally 

 dry material, because the watering of the pots will moisten 

 whatever they are packed in, while the hard bottom will pre- 

 vent the wet from lodging. The roots will even here strike 

 through the bottom of the pot ; but, in the first place, there 

 is less disposition, because the hard bottom and the ashes 

 or gravel will not be so inviting as the common earth, and 

 they will greatly protect the sides of the pots from sun and 

 wind, and thus keep up a moisture among the fibres that 

 have reached them ; but if the pots have no packing an 

 occasional examination and constant watering, when the sun 

 becomes weakened in the afternoon, will make all but the 

 outside rows pretty safe a row of turves, or a foot wall, or 

 a piece of plank along the sunny side will always protect 

 them enough. 



Blooming Mignonette in Winter. The blooming 

 of this universal favourite may be continued throughout the 

 year by a little management on the part of those who possess 

 a cold frame or a greenhouse. To accomplish this the seed 

 should be sown in the beginning of February, in pots of any 

 convenient size. The soil should be good loam, moderately 

 enriched with well-rotted farm-yard manure, and kept open 

 by a pretty liberal intermixture of old mortar or lime rubbish. 

 It is essential that the pots be thoroughly drained. After 

 sowing the seed set the pots where they will not require 

 frequent waterings, too much moisture being extremely 

 injurious to mignonette ; for this reason, therefore, it will be 

 safer to place the pots in a frame or pit, where they may be 

 covered by the lights in rainy weather. As the plants in- 

 crease in size they should be gradually thinned, ultimately 

 leaving three in each pot. Nip off every flower bud as it 

 appears, give water only when the plants really require it, and 



