JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 20,1882. ] 
20th 
Tn 
Helensburgh Rose Show. 
21st 
F 
National Rose Society, Darlington. 
22nd 
S 
23rd 
SUN 
7tii Sunday after Trinity. 
24th 
M 
[11 A.JI. National Carnation and Picotee Society’s Show. 
25th 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees at 
26th 
W 
Newcastle-on-Tyne Summer Show. Glasgow Show of Pansies 
[and Pinks. 
MIGNONETTE AT CHISWICK. 
EW plants are greater favourites than the sweet 
and modest Mignonette, which is grown in 
vast quantities in the neighbourhood of Lon¬ 
don to supply the demand constantly existing 
for the flowers. Indeed the culture of Migno¬ 
nette is a very important feature in many 
establishments where plants are largely grown for 
market,’’and hundreds of thousands of potfuls are 
collectively sent to Covent Garden in the course of the 
' year. It is not, therefore, surprising that some attempts 
should have been made to improve so popular a favourite ; and 
as this could only be done by careful and continued selection 
the progress which has been made is rather remarkable, for 
several distinct and handsome varieties are now in cultivation 
which greatly surpass the old and commoner form. This ad¬ 
vance is admirably shown by the numerous races or varieties 
which have been tried at Chiswick this year, all of which 
possess some distinguishing characters of more or less merit, 
and several are marked by such excellence that they deserve 
particular notice. The forms may be conveniently ranked 
under three types—those in which the flowers have the petals 
pure white, larger, and more prominent than usual; secondly, 
those with the anthers large and red, the petals not being con¬ 
spicuous ; and thirdly, those with similar anthers but yellow. 
When a number of varieties are grown together these dis¬ 
tinguishing characters are very noteworthy, the heads having 
respectively a white, red, or yellow appearance. 
Taking the types m the order named above, a few of the 
leading varieties in each may be appropriately noticed, as the 
collection affords [an excellent opportunity of judging their 
comparative merits. Foremost amongst the new forms of the 
first section is Hemsley's Giant White, a beautiful variety 
possessing several recommendations. In habit the plants are 
sturdy and compact, the spikes are large, full, and of great 
length, the flowers very white, the petals being large, and the 
fragrance is powerful and sweet. It partakes of the merits of 
Parson's White, a well-known variety, which attracted much 
attention when first sent out, and is, indeed, probably a selec¬ 
tion from that form. The latter is also well represented, and 
with Garraway’s White, a similar variety, bearing handsome 
spikes of white flowers, we have a trio of the best in the section ; 
to which may be added the grand form, Miles’s Hybrid Spiral, 
for though thej flowers are scarcely so white as the others, it 
has spikes of great s'ze and excellent form, which render it one 
of the noblest Mignonettes in cultivation when it is thoroughly 
well grown. These white-flowered varieties are particularly 
49 
useful for cutting, as the spikes have not such a dull appear¬ 
ance as some of the others when arranged in bouquets. 
In the “ red ” section the forms are numerous, but several 
from different firms, though bearing diverse names, resemble 
each other closely. One of the most distinct and attractive is 
that recently exhibited and certificated as pyramidalis grandi- 
flora, which was received from both M. Vilmorin et Cie. and 
Messrs. Barr & Son. As grown at Chiswick this surpasses all 
the others in the size of the spikes both in pots and borders, 
and in one bed some of the spikes are G inches or more in cir¬ 
cumference at the widest portion. They are not of great 
length, but their surprising width, and fine, compact, conical 
form, render the variety most striking. It is extremely vigor¬ 
ous, with large leaves, but the plants are of medium height ; 
the anthers are reddish, and the flowers very fragrant. Next 
in order of merit is Victoria (Benary), which is one of the 
most strongly marked red forms, the anthers being large and 
more deeply coloured than the majority of the type. The 
spikes are also of good size, very compact, and the habit sturdy. 
Dwarf Compact from Messrs. Veitch & Sons is the counterpart 
of the above, except that it is dwarfer and admirably fitted for 
culture in pots. Both these are first-rate varieties. Pumila 
erecta and Diamond (Benary), with Giant Bed Pyramidal of 
Messrs. Veitch, Barr, and Henderson, are good forms, the first 
two being notable for their dwarf habit, and the last-named 
for the length of the spikes. 
From a number of firms, such as Messrs. Veitch, Carter, 
Cannell, and Henderson, a remarkably distinct yellow-flowered 
variety was received as Golden Queen, and from the continent 
the same variety came as ameliorata aurea, all being precisely 
alike and equally good. The Floral Committee when recently 
visiting Chiswick signified their appreciation of this variety 
by awarding a first-class certificate for it, and this honour it 
well deserves, for without doubt it is one of the most distinct 
Mignonettes in culture. The habit is dwarf, sturdy, and com¬ 
pact, the spikes being of moderate size, but with flowers closely 
set to form a good head. The anthers are numerous and 
marked by a very notable yellow hue, which gives the spikes a 
tinge that is very observable when a number are grown to¬ 
gether. Few of the varieties represented have attracted more 
attention from visitors than this one, chiefly owing to its 
distinct colour. 
It should be added that all the Mignonette in pots has been 
admirably grown, and very rarely has a finer collection both 
as regards culture and varieties been shown than that exhibited 
at Kensington a few weeks since from the Chiswick Gardens. 
With some few exceptions the plants have not succeeded so 
well in beds, but pyramidalis grandiflora must be named as the 
most remarkable of the former, for in one bed it is much finer 
than in pots. Mignonette displays a strange partiality for par¬ 
ticular localities in this respect ; in one it may thrive as well 
as could be desired, and in another no attention seems success¬ 
ful. Too heavy soil, or one that quickly becomes parched, 
is unsuited for the plant, the delicate rootlets of which are soon 
injured either by excess or insufficiency of moisture, and a 
rather cool slightly shaded position is preferable to one that is 
fully exposed to the sun. When sown in a border amongst 
other plants Mignonette often does well, as the slight protec¬ 
tion thus afforded seems to suit it, aud in situations near much- 
frequented walks, orjin borders under windows, the fragrance 
exhaled by the flowers is most pleasing, as all well know. 
No. 10 3 .— Yol. V., Tiiiud Series. 
No. 1704.—Yoi. LXVIII , Old Series. 
