TRAINED MIGNONETTE. 



207 



MIGNONETTE. 



Mignonette (Eeseda ordorata) finds favour with most people, especially when flowered 

 under glass at a time when no spikes can be had in the open. Pot culture is not such an 

 easy matter as might be imagined. On the contrary mignonette requires skilful 

 management — at all events if the plants and flowers are required in the most pre- 

 sentable condition. They are principally grown in G-inch pots. Trained plants meet 

 with less favour than formerly, but for the benefit of readers who would like to try 

 their " prentice hands " upon trained specimens of mignonette, cultural hints are here 

 given. The commoner varieties are not good enough for the purpose, and the best for 

 growing either as standards or pyramids, are Miles' Spiral and Parsons' White. 

 These cannot be grown to a large size in a few weeks, but at least six months ought 

 to be expended in the production of plants that are to commence flowering under glass 

 in October or a little later. 



For producing them sow the seed late in April or early in May. Fill the requisite 

 number of clean 3-inch pots with a mixture of two parts sandy loam to one of leaf 

 soil, making this moderately firm. Sow about six seeds in each, cover with a little 

 fine soil, and place in a shallow warm frame to germinate. When the seedlings are 

 large enough to nearly touch each other, reduce to three in each pot, reserving those 

 with the broadest leaves, as any with narrow leaves usually produce inferior flower 

 spikes. Lightly support these plants, when they require it, with small stakes, ventilate 

 freely and do not neglect the watering. When the pots are well filled, but not unduly 

 crowded with roots, a shift must be given into the 5 -inch size. 



For this and subsequent pottings the soil suitable is a mixture of three parts 

 loam to one each of leaf soil and partially-decayed manure, adding pounded mortar rub- 

 bish and silver sand freely, with a very light sprinkling of soot. Clean, carefully- 

 drained pots must always be used, and the soil pressed down firmly. 



Keturn the newly-potted plants to a frame or shallow pit, and if, during the 

 summer, neither deep frames nor pits can be spared for trained mignonette plants, they 

 must have the benefit of a sheltered position and an awning to screen them from drying 

 winds and strong sunshine. For growing into standards the most promising of the 

 reserved plants in each pot should be finally saved and the rest drawn out. Support 

 the plants with a light stake and pick out the point of each plant directly it gives signs 

 of flowering. Secure the strongest shoot that follows to take the lead, top the lower 



