38 FLORA HISTORICA. 



proportion of earth : this stratum to be about six 

 inches thick, and placed five or six inches below 

 the surface, is all the preparation or compost that 

 appears necessary for this flower ;" but Emmerton 

 says that " Pink beds should be top-dressed in the 

 spring, if you have a desire to excel in blooms, 

 with some old night-soil, or sugar-baker's scum, 

 finely sifted and sown over it ;" and he adds, that 

 the strong-blowing plants should not be allowed 

 to bloom more than eight or ten blooms, and those 

 that are weaker, and of a less size, not more than 

 four. 



It will be observed that large strong plants will 

 send up a great number of flower-stems, all the 

 weakest of which should be thinned out a month or 

 six weeks before bloom, as by this means the strong 

 and leading stems, which proceed from the heart or 

 centre of the plant, will receive more nourishment, 

 and consequently produce finer flowers — to assist 

 which, also, all the small lateral pods should be cut 

 off with a pair of scissors. 



As we decidedly object to square beds for any 

 description of flowers that are placed in ornamental 

 gardens, we recommend that circular holes should 

 be dug out, and filled with the proper earth, or 

 compost, raised somewhat above the level of the 

 border ; and that from five to seven plants should 

 be placed in a star shape, at about six or nine 



