170 GARDENING FOR YOUNG AND OLD. 



to two or three inches apart. But the other plan will 

 give finer plants and there is less af terwork. 



Another bed should be sown a week or two later; and 

 if the early sown bed is on warm, dry soil, facing the 

 south, and the other bed on deep, rich soil, sloping to 

 the north, or the north-west or north-east, you will have 

 a longer succession of Mignonette in full flower and fra- 

 grance. The more flowers you gather, the more you will 

 have. If you do not cut the flowers, they will go to seed 

 and this weakens the plant; but the better way is to sow 

 large beds at different times. Mignonette can be trans- 

 planted, but the work has to be done skillfully, and it is 

 better to sow the seed where the plants are intended to 

 remain. A bed of Mignonette should be sown in the au- 

 tumn; this will give early flowers next spring. You can 

 not have too many beds of Mignonette, nor can they be 

 too large. 



MIMOSA, OK SENSITIVE PLANT. 



The species known as Mimosa pudica, or Sensitive 

 Plant, is exceedingly interesting ; it is very pretty, but 

 its chief charm, especially to the children, lies in the 

 fact that when you touch it, all the leaves instantly curl 

 up, and the branch falls down. ( 



The seed should be sown early in the spring in the hot- 

 bed or in a box in the house. When the plants begin to 

 crowd, if the soil outside is not thoroughly warm, prick 

 them out into a larger box, or into pots, and about the 

 middle of June, set them out carefully in a well-prepared 

 border. It is well to leave a few plants in four or five- 

 inch pots. Plunge the pots in the soil so that the rims 

 shall be even with the surface, next autumn, and before 

 frost, remove these pots to the house. The plants will 

 be interesting objects all winter. 



