3 o8 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Mignonette. The delicious fragrance of the Mignonette (Reseda 

 odorata) renders it a general favourite, and good plants of it are often 

 grown in pots. Pretty little plants for autumn and winter flowering 

 may be obtained in pots five inches in diameter, but the seed must be 

 sown in July and August. A suitable compost is two-thirds loam to 

 one-third well-decayed manure, with a little sand. The pots must be 

 well drained, and the soil pressed down very firmly to within an inch of 

 the rim. In sowing the seed take care not to sprinkle it too thickly, as 

 five healthy plants are sufficient for one pot. A frame out of doors is a 

 good place for the seed-pots, as the lights will serve to keep off an excess 

 of rain, which must be especially guarded against. Plenty of air should 

 be given, and as the plants develop a little liquid manure will be of 

 service. A light position and a good circulation of air are necessary to 

 the Mignonette in autumn and winter. There are several forms, the 

 variety Machet being one of the best. 



Mimosa. See Acacia dealbata. 



Mimulus. The garden forms of Mimulus, known as the Monkey 

 Flower, are in many cases curiously marked. They grow readily from 

 seed in the spring, and pretty little examples may be obtained in five- 

 inch pots. The common Musk (Mimulus moschatus) is a general favourite, 

 readily increased by division, as is also the larger-flowered form known 

 as Harrison's Musk. 



Monkey Flower. See Mimulus. 



Musk. See Mimulus moschatus. 



Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. A slender climber, with small, 

 bright shining green, heart-shaped leaves. It is the plant commonly 

 known as Smilax, and has long sprays so much used for table decoration. 

 It succeeds in ordinary potting compost. 



Nerine. A beautiful class of greenhouse bulbs, the different members 

 of which flower in the autumn, perfect their growth during the winter, 

 die down towards the end of spring, and rest during the summer, when 

 they must be kept quite dry and fully exposed to the sun. They should be 

 given soil mainly composed of leaf-mould and sand, and will stand for 

 years without repotting. The best are Nerine corusca, with flowing orange- 

 scarlet flowers ; N. Fothergilli major, vivid scarlet ; N. sarninsis (Guernsey 

 Lily), carmine-rose; and N. Bowdenii, pink, with deep coloured stripe 

 down the centre of each segment. 



Nerium Oleander. This, known popularly as the Oleander, is 

 a loose-growing evergreen shrub with Willow-like leaves and showy 

 blossoms, usually rose or white, in some cases single and in others double. 

 In was in olden days a very popular conservatory plant, large examples 

 being often grown in tubs and stood outside during the summer. Plenty 

 of sunshine is essential to its flowering. 



Norfolk Island Pine. See Araucaria excelsa. 



Ophiopogon spicatum variegatum, with white, striped leaves, 

 and 0. Jaburan variegatum, in which they are marked with yellow, are 

 two dense-growing, grass-like plants, very pretty for indoor decoration. 



Oxalis. A dwarf class of clover-like plants, most of which spring 



