MIGNONETTE. 



Wk'fe, Reseda odorata. 



||§i;'- PLANT may have no history, 

 and yet be full of fame. It 

 is so with the mignonette, 

 which was unknown to the 

 authors of the best of our old 

 English gardening books, and 

 the history of which may 

 be written on the thumb- 

 nail. It is a plentiful weed 

 in Northern Africa, and more 

 particularly in Egypt, whence 

 it travelled to Italy, and 

 made its way northward. In 

 1742 Lord Bateman saw it 

 in the Royal Garden of 

 Paris, and secured seed for its 

 introduction to this country, 

 where it soon became as 

 famous as in Prance, its delightfully fresh perfume being 

 a sufficient recommendation. The French gave it the 

 familiar name it bears of " little darling," and none 

 would desire to improve upon that. It is never spoken of 

 as a reseda except in botanic gardens, and the most en- 

 lightened company would be nonplussed if one were to 

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