Mignonette. 197 



should be kept as cool as possible the first six weeks, 

 and with the approach of cold weather a night tem- 

 perature not to exceed 45° should be the standard. 

 Should the thermometer fall to 40° occasionally, the 

 effect will be to strengthen the bloom stems. All the 

 air necessary to maintain a temperature of from 55° to 

 65° by day should be given. 



As this plant is also subject to fungoid disease, it is 

 well to adopt precautionary measures. As a rule, it 

 will be found to be better to apply the water necessary 

 to be used during winter to the soil direct, refraining 

 from the use of cold water on the foliage as much as 

 possible. 



The particular form of fungus to which mignonette 

 is liable, Prof. Seymour tells us, is very contagious, 

 spreading from plant to plant with great rapidity. Its 

 appearance is that of wilted or dried spots on the leaves, 

 and oftentimes the w-hole leaf is destroyed by it. 



Upon the first signs of its appearance, syringing 

 should be resorted to, using the same formula as given 

 for violets on page 195, and though it may not in all 

 cases prevent its increase, it is as yet the best known 

 agent in that direction. 



