MIGNONETTE FOR WINTER. 
503 
coloured style or column is protruded in a 
curved form on the upper side, the stigma 
being yet retained in the little ball or knob 
alluded to ; the knob is formed by four oval 
segments, into which the end of the calyx is 
divided, and to the inner side of which the 
stamens are attached. At a more advanced 
stage, and apparently owing to the growth 
and development of the pollen, the little knobs 
burst asunder, and together with the slender por- 
tion become divided into four segments, which 
are then long and narrow, or strap- shaped ; 
three of these bend downwards, and one 
upwards, each also curving backwards, whilst 
the style merely assumes an upward direction ; 
the obtuse ends of the calyx are of a greenish 
yellow colour, the rest of the flower being of 
a deep orange scarlet, deepened to a dark brown- 
red in the centre. The entire appearance 
of the cluster is very singular, and very beau- 
tiful. The plant was introduced to the Royal 
Botanic Garden at Kew from Moreton Bay in 
18,30, and though rare, has been cultivated in 
some few establishments, but does not appear 
to have ever flowered in this country prior to 
the autumn of the present year, (1846,) when 
it bloomed at the United Nursery, King's- 
road, Chelsea. The blooming of this plant is 
believed to have resulted in consequence of 
all the branches having been topped a short 
time previously for the purpose of furnishing 
cuttings, the plant being at the time in a 
rather starved condition, and the wood well 
ripened ; no doubt the hot and lengthened 
summer has also had much influence in in- 
ducing it to bloom. This treatment has 
caused it to throw out a profusion of hand- 
some flowers from the old wood, even down 
the bare stem. It grows with freedom in 
sandy peat soil, and requires considerable care 
in watering. The plant here alluded to had 
been kept in — and the species no doubt per- 
manently requires — an airy situation, in a tem- 
perature intermediate between that of a stove 
and green-house, its native place of growth 
being within a few degrees of the southern 
tropic. It is propagated by cuttings. 
The genus Agnostus belongs to the natural 
order Proteacere, and to the Linnsean Tetran- 
dria Monogynia ; the present, the only one. 
known in our gardens, is a very handsome 
species. The sketches which accompany this 
notice, represent one of the bunches of flowers 
when about half expanded (reduced one-half), 
a leaf (reduced about two-thirds,) and a fully 
expanded flower (natural size). 
BLOOMING MIGNONETTE IN WINTER. 
Therk is such a peculiar sweetness in the 
odour of the common mignonette, that it is a 
universal favourite. As every one knows, it 
is naturallv a summer flower, but it is one of 
those also which are made to demonstrate the 
triumph of knowledge and intelligence, for it 
is— though not without difficulty — very ex- 
tensively cultivated for the purpose of bloom- 
ing in winter. In fact, Mignonette is not only 
a universal favourite, but it is in request at all 
seasons of the year. Mr. Whiting, gardener 
to H. T Hope, Esq., of Deepdene, has given 
some very good directions for winter culture, 
in the Journal of the Horticultural Society * 
which we here subjoin : — 
" Few flowers are more esteemed for bou- 
quets in winter and early spring than the 
sweet-scented mignonette (Reseda odorata) ; 
it is also very useful for the decoration of 
the drawing-room and conservatory at those 
seasons of the year. Although the mignonette 
is not a delicate plant, yet it is not generally 
seen in the perfection to which it might be 
brought by the simple method of culture I am 
about to describe. To flower at or soon after 
Christmas the seed should be sown in the 
beginning of August, in pots of any con- 
venient size. The soil should be good loam, 
moderately enriched with rotten dung, and 
kept open by a pretty liberal intermixture 
with old mortar or lime rubbish. It is- 
essential that the pots be thoroughly drained-, 
and upon the drainage a handful (more or 
less, according to the size of the pots) of one- 
year-old pigeon's dung should be placed. 
After sowing the seed, set the pots where- 
they will not require frequent waterings, too 
much moisture being extremely injurious to 
mignonette ; for this reason, therefore, it will 
be safer to place the pots in a frame or pit, 
where they may be covered by the lights in 
rainy weather. As the plants increase in size 
they should be gradually thinned, ultimately 
leaving three or live in each pot. The prin- 
cipal point to be attended to now is judicious 
watering ; by this I mean giving water only 
when the plants really require water, and 
then in sufficient quantity to moisten the 
whole of the soil — not dribbling a few drops 
over the plants to-day to prevent them from 
being dry to-morrow — a practice too much 
followed with plants in pots. Pinch off any 
premature flowers that may appear, keep the 
pots free from weeds, and far enough asunder 
to prevent the plants from being crowded, and 
when they are removed to winter quarters, 
set them near the glass in an airy situation. 
A few of the plants might be placed in an 
intermediate house, or other situation rather 
warmer than a green-house, to come into 
bloom a little earlier than the rest. 
" I have recommended the seeds to be sown 
in the pots, which is the method I prefer ; but 
if more convenient, a sufficient number of 
* Journal of the Horticultural Society, Vol. 1, Part 
4, pa;c 256. 
