Well aware of its specific origin, he was desirous of learn- 
ing the history of its metamorphose. On _ referring by 
letter to M. PAbbé L’Arbaleste of Liége, from whom bade 
Whitshed had obtained the plant, the earliest opportunity 
was embraced of informing him, that the ‘“Tree-Mignonette” 
was no novelty in the continental gardens; where it was 
produced at will by the following treatment: “The plant 
that it is desired to render a shrub, is placed in a garden- 
pot, a stick of about 2 feet long inserted by the side, to 
which it is tied up as it advances in height, the leaves 
being occasionally stripped from the lower part, that a 
stem may be formed to the height required; the plant in the 
mean time is kept in some place where it can be protected 
from the effects of frost, by which means it is made to last 
for two or three years. As soon as the seed-vessels begin to 
ripen they are cut off, and a fresh suit of blossom soon 
makes its appearance.” Sir Joseph has since met with the 
detail of a similar process recommended for the same pur- 
pose in “ Le Bon Jardinier,” the Gardener's calendar of 
France; where the plant is known only by the name of 
“ Réséda,” that of Mignonette never being applied to it 
there. Nor have we been able to satisfy ourselves whence 
it has obtained that appellation with us. 
The following is a translation of the Chevalier La- 
marck’s description of the’species. Stems partly recumbent 
partly ascendent, streaked, smooth, tender, green, scarcely 
angular, sometimes thinly beset with small white hairs, 
leafy ; leaves either simple or divided into 2 or 3 lobes, 
tender, green, and smooth on both sides, obtuse at their 
summit and cuneately tapered towards their petiole. Flowers 
pedicled, alternate, greenish white; bractes small pointed 
membranous, two thirds at least shorter than the pedicles. 
_ Calyx persistent, of the same length as the corolla, divided 
into six linear segments. Corolla generally of 6 petals or 
more, two of which form the upper part of the corolla, these 
are unguiculate and lightly fringed at their lower part, 
where they are arched so as to converge over the edge of 
an orbicular laminar pubescent gland, which forms the 
basement on which the germen is placed; lateral and lower 
ones very narrow. Anthers brick red. Capsules oblong, 
full of small knobs, terminated by 3 small points. 
— 
a The calyx. 5A petal. c The anthers, as inserted on the round. 
glandular basement of the germen. d Germen and its basement. 
