Gardening for Amateurs 



443 



Mignonette is a plant of which it is almost 

 impossible to have too many. Sow in beds 

 and borders near the house, so that the 

 powerful fragrance may enter the open 

 windows, or as a groundwork for beds of 

 standard Roses, among Dahlias, Gladioli, 

 and other plants. The seeds must be sown 

 during March, April and May where the 

 plants are to flower. During recent years the 

 varieties of Mignonette have been wonderfully 

 improved, and we can now purchase seeds 

 of several distinct colours. The Giant strain 

 is sold in three distinct shades, white, red 

 and yellow. Pearl, creamy-white ; Machet, 

 red ; and Cloth of Gold, yellow, are all 

 attractive and distinct sorts. The popular 

 strain to grow in quantity is known as the 

 large-flowered sweet-scented, seeds of this 

 being sold by the ounce or pound. The 

 plants are of spreading habit, and grow from 

 12 to 18 inches high. It is a great mistake 

 to sow seeds of Mignonette too thickly ; each 

 plant should finally be at least 12 inches 

 from its neighbour. 



Nemesia strumosa. All who propose 

 growing this really lovely annual should 

 secure a good strain of seed. The large- 

 flowered strain is sold in six distinct colours, 

 pale yellow, white, orange, rose-pink, crimson, 

 and scarlet, also in mixture. The small- 

 flowered strain contains numerous and varied 

 shades of colour from white, through lemon, 

 yellow and orange, to the deepest crimson, 

 also lilac, mauve and purple. Four of the 

 best small-flowered varieties bear distinctive 

 names descriptive of their colour ; these are 

 White Gem, Blue Gem, Orange Prince, and 

 Fire King ; they are compact and floriferous, 

 and the leaves are almost entirely hidden by 

 the richly coloured flowers. The Xemesius 

 are among the best half-hardy annuals for 

 planting small beds on a lawn. The re- 

 spective sorts come very true to colour. 

 Those who cannot devote beds to this annual 

 should plant a few groups along the front 

 of the flower borders. Xemesias grow from 

 9 to 12 inches high. Sow the seeds under 

 glass during April or outside in May, either 

 where they are to flower or on a border from 

 which the young plants can be transplanted 

 later. Nemesias delight in a light, rich soil 

 and a sunny position. 



Nemophila. This is one of the easiest 



of the dwarf hard}' annuals to cultivate 

 successfully, thriving well in small town and 

 suburban gardens. It is grown for ribbon 

 borders, edgings to beds, and in large 

 patches in the mixed border. The Nemo- 

 phila succeeds in almost all soils. For 

 preference sow the seeds from the middle 

 of March to the end of April where the 

 plants are to flower. The best known 

 Nemophila is the beautiful blue insignis, 

 which grows 6 inches high, the variety 



Nemesia, a beautiful flower of orange, blue 

 and other colours. 



alba has white flowers, and grandiflora is 

 bright blue. N. atomaria has white flowers 

 freely marked with small dark sj>ots, the 

 variety atroeaerulea is blue with a white 

 eye; both grow 4 inches high, and are valu- 

 able alike for edgings and the rock garden. 

 N. maculata grandiflora is rather taller in 

 growth than the last named with pretty 

 white flowers dotted with purple. 



Nicotiana (Tobacco Plant). Most lovers 

 of the garden make a point of growing the 



