592 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



will branch out, and continue to blow until the 

 sprinj;. The crop for March, April, and May, 

 should be sown in small pots not later than the 

 2oth of August; the plants from this sowing 

 Avill not suffer from exposure to rain whilst they 

 are young, they must, however, be protected 

 from early frosts; like the winter crop, tliey are 

 to be thinned in November, leaving not more 

 than eight or ten plants in each pot; and at the 

 same time the pots being sunk about three or 

 four inches in some old tan or coal ashes, should be 

 covered with a frame, which it is best to place 

 fronting the west; for there the lights may be 

 left open in the evening to catch the sun. The 

 third or spring crop, should be sown in pots not 

 later than the 25th of February; these must be 

 placed on a frame on a gentle heat, and as the 

 heat declines, the pots must be let down three 

 or four inches into the dung bed, which will 

 keep the roots moist, and prevent their leaves 

 turning brown from the heat of the sun in April 

 or May. The plants thus obtained will be in 

 perfection by the end of May, and be ready to 

 succeed those raised by the autumnal sowing.'^ 



An early and abundant blow of mignonette 

 may also be obtained by using a common box, 

 placed in the window sill, in a warm situation 

 exposed to the sun. In early spring this box 

 should have a glass frame fitted as a covering, 

 to be removed in summer, and which can be 

 obtained at a very moderate expense. About 

 the middle or end of February fill this box with 

 fresh light mould, to which add a little sand, 

 and a sprinkling of lime or pounded chalk, or 

 whiting. Then sow the seed pretty thick, and 

 cover it over with a portion of the finely pul- 

 verized mould. The box should be kept inside 

 the window until the plants appear, and then 

 put it outside in March, taking care to cover it up 

 in severe weather, and in frosty nights. As the 

 plants advance they are to be thinned out, air 

 admitted in the sunny part of the day, and a 

 sufficient supply of water given, so as to keep 

 the mould moist. The glass frame may be 

 removed in April or May, at the end of which 

 latter month the plants will begin to flower; 

 and if properly tended and watered, the blow 

 will continue till November. Mignonette requires 

 the sun and air, in order to produce its full and 

 perfect odour; and, on this account, even the 

 pots of this plant should be generally exposed 

 to the open air. 



A few seeds of convolvulus minor, clarhia pul- 

 chella, or other annuals, interspersed through 

 the mignonette box, affords a pleasing variety. 



The tree mignonette is also propagated by seed, 

 or it may be increased by cuttings, which will 

 readily strike root. The young plants should 

 be put singly into small pots, and brought for- 



♦ Eisl.on. Hort. Transac, vol. 2. 



ward by heat, that of a gentle hot-bed belnj 

 the best. As they advance they must be tied 

 to a stick, taking care to prevent the growth of 

 the smaller side' shoots hj pinching them off, but 

 allowing the leaves of the main stem to remain 

 on for a time, to support and strengthen it. 

 When they have obtained the height of about 

 ten inches, or more, according to the fancy of 

 the cultivator, the shoots must be suffered to 

 extend themselves from the top, but must be 

 occasionally stopped at the ends, to force them 

 to foi-m a bushy head, which, by the autun-.n, 

 will be eight or nine inches in diameter, and 

 covered with bloom. Whilst the plants are 

 attaining their proper size, they should be shifted 

 progressively into larger pots, and may ultimately 

 be left in those of six inches in diameter at the 

 top. 



WooDKOOF C asperula odorata ) . Natural 

 family riihiacece; tetrandria, monogynia, of Lin- 

 nseus. This is a plant which grows wild in 

 woods and thickets, and has been admitted into 

 the garden from the beauty of its whorled leaves 

 and simple blossom, but chiefly from the fragrant 

 odour of the leaves. This odour is only per- 

 ceptible when the leaves are crushed by the 

 fingers; but when dried, they give out their 

 peculiar odour very strongly, and for a long 

 period. They are used to scent clothes, and also 

 to preserve them from the attack of insects. 



This plant will grow under the drip of trees, 

 or in very shaded places, and thus may become 

 a pleasing ornament in situations where other 

 flowers will not thrive. It is also frequently 

 planted in rock works. 



The Hollyhock (althcea rosea). Natural 

 family mahaceoe j monodelpMa, polyandria, of 

 Linnaeus. Several species of the mallow are 

 common weeds in Europe. The hollyhock is 

 originally a native of China; but it thrives per- 

 fectly in the open air in this country; and forms 

 a very ornamental autumn flower in shrubberies 

 and cottage borders. There are nearly twenty 

 varieties of this species, characterized by the 

 tints of yellow, red, purple, and dark purple, 

 approaching to black. They are easily raised 

 from seed, and wiU grow in any common garden 

 soil. 



The Hydrangea. Natural i&xaAy saxifragece, 

 or hydrangece ; decandria, digynia, Linnaeus. 

 This is a genus of marsh or aquatic plants, and 

 hence the name is derived from a Greek com- 

 pound signifying water-vessel. Four of the 

 known species are natives of America; and one, 

 the garden hj'drangea (h. liortensis), is exten- 

 sively cultivated in the gardens of China and 

 Japan, although it has not been hitherto found 

 in a wild state. It was introduced into the 

 gardens of Kew, by the late Sir Joseph Banks; 

 and for a long time was a fashionable and 

 favourite plant from the great beauty and size 



