To have nice standard-trained Mignonette necessitates some attention and care on the part of the cultivator. This is especially the case in the earlier stages of its growth, when the danger lies in the young seedlings becoming stunted in their growth as well as woody in substance, a condition most opposed to the attainment of the object desired, as all depends on getting strong stubby succulent plants out of the seed-bed to commence with, followed up with unremitting attention as regards water, potting, pinching, and training the upright growth until the desired height has been reached.

It shall be my endeavour to describe the various attentions required of the cultivator, that he may succeed in growing plants to his mind, commencing with Seed-Sowing. The soil best suited is a compost of two parts light, rich, fibry loam, one part leaf-mould, and the other part equal proportions bone-meal and sand. These, properly mixed and passed through a ½-inch sieve, are in condition for use. All being prepared, fill a seed-pan (after crocking liberally), press the soil rather firmly, sow the seed thinly, cover, and moisten through a fine rose, and now secure standing-room on an airy shelf near to the glass, prefering an aspect towards the east, and screened from the mid-day sun. I believe a situation answering to this description to be the most favourable while the plants are young; indeed, until they are well advanced.

The soil should not be allowed to get dry on any consideration, nor be made suddenly wet, but kept naturally moist by occasional sprinklings until the seedlings have appeared above ground. The same treatment may be pursued until they are ready for potting off, with the additional look-out against the plants shrinking through the influence of an over-dry atmosphere. This must be prevented likewise by sprinklings of water after hot sunshine.

"When the seedlings have made two pairs of leaves, no time should be lost before getting them transferred singly into thumb-pots, using the same compost already described for seed-sowing. It is most important to be careful in this operation; too much soil cannot adhere to the roots - the more the better, to enable them to establish themselves in their new quarters and prevent a cessation of growth taking place. Let the operation of raising the seedlings out of the bed be performed by the help of a pointed stick, making a roomy hole in the centre of the soil of each pot to freely admit the root, press the soil gently to the roots, and after all are potted, plunge their pots in a shallow box among sand and return them to their former quarters, shading for the first few days, and of course not neglecting to water well after potting.

For a week or two water will comprehend the main wants of the plants in a well-aired house, but probably in a few more days their small pots will be full of roots, when pots of larger dimensions ought to be given them, say those of 4 inches diameter. After this shift, plunging in boxes may be dispensed with, and in a short time side-growths will make their appearance; these must be displaced as soon as the point of the knife can conveniently reach them without damage to the foliage. Flower spikes will also soon be formed, and they must be pinched off, and the nearest side-shoot made to substitute the part pinched as a leading shoot. Besides supplying each plant with a light stake to support the stems in their upward growth, continue tying the growths in an upright direction until they in their turn show flowers, which ought again to be removed, and the nearest lateral growth taken for a leader.

Throughout this period of time and growth, fresh shoots will most persistently be thrown out at the axils of the leaves, while the leaves themselves will go on increasing in dimensions and substance until they arrive at probably four times their natural size. These leaves, when preserved, make a fine furnishing to what would be otherwise naked unsightly stalks.

By the end of May it will be advisable to change the plants from the greenhouse to a cold frame, where shading must be attended to, so that the foliage may not be blotched by powerful sun, only allowing the sashes to be brought over the plants in extremely cold, windy, or rainy weather, and removing them again when the weather has altered for the better.

Repot into pots two sizes larger on every occasion that the roots net their balls, until finally they occupy pots of 10 inches diameter. Further, as regards soil, let this be given in its rough state (unsifted), using the same ingredients to form the compound as first perscribed after the second shift.

When the height desired has been arrived at, pinch out the centre of the shoots and permit laterals to grow, thin only a few inches down the stem while carefully removing all others as they appear. By the end of August the most advanced require umbrella-like wire canopies. These frames are quite cheap, and can be had from any wire-worker; the sizes of those we use are from 18 inches to 2 feet diameter. As some danger of breaking the stems of the plants attends the operation of replacing the first stake with a stronger one to support the frame, one must handle the plants with caution.

The work which follows is simple enough, as the branchlets will readily fall into their places, and only want tying down to the wire frame. An addition of a little guano to the water in spring, when active growth again commences, will prove of important service in the formation of strong flower-spikes. Regarding the time to sow the seed, I prefer .March, but a month later will do well enough. The only difference arising from this is, that they are some time longer in arriving at perfection.

Another consideration which must not be overlooked, is the chance of the plants getting infected by caterpillars. These in their young state are scarcely distinguishable from the leaves, both being alike in colour; and it is only when the damage is done that their presence and power to destroy can be realised. This plunderer generally shows his appearance in August, is quite a harmless-looking little fellow, scarcely worthy the bother of hunting at first, but his masterly eating powers soon make it apparent what he will do if left to his own discretion. A. Kerr.