PINK. 63 



following, with but very little variation in the 

 management ; nevertheless, some sorts succeed 

 much better by piping than laying, and make 

 healthier plants : it requires attention and expe- 

 rience to distinguish such sorts from the rest."*' 

 Where shoots are too short for laying, or where 

 they become broken by accident, it is necessary to 

 have recourse to piping ; and for this purpose it is 

 essential to have a slight hotbed, and cover it four 

 or five inches deep with fine light mould, laid very 

 regular and even. '* The cuttings intended to be 

 piped are to have two complete joints, that is to 

 say, they are to be cut off horizontally close under 

 the second joint : the extremities or points of the 

 leaves are likewise to be shortened, as for laying, 

 which will leave the whole length of the piping 

 from one inch and a half to two inches, according 

 to its strength : as soon as thus pi-epared, it may 

 be thrown into a basin of soft water for a few mi- 

 nutes, to plump it up. The earth on the bed where 

 the pipings are to be placed should be moderately 

 moistened, and rendered rather compact than 

 otherwise ; then take a small hand-glass, and with 

 it make an impression neatly on the surface of the 

 soil, in order to know where to stick in the pipings, 

 so as to lose no room, or endanger their being dis- 

 turbed when the glass is placed over them. The 

 pipings are then to be taken out of the bason singly. 



