PINK. 4i 



cause in most other parts of the world he finds 

 his fellow-creatures too often debarred from these 

 mnocent luxuries, that endear his home to the 

 English cottager, and render his limited bounds 

 a sufficient substitute for a proud domain ; with 

 what pride and satisfaction do we see him regard 

 his plants on the morning of a fine sabbath-day, 

 surrounded by his neatly-clad family, or collect- 

 ing a nosegay for the charitable wife of his em- 

 ployer. These are scenes that are the particular 

 boast of England, but like the Pink they require 

 a careful attention to prevent their degeneration. 

 Give the cottagers a garden, and you bar up the 

 ale-houses ; for the mind of the most illiterate 

 man will occupy itself in leisure, and when do- 

 mestic employ is not found to amuse, idle politics 

 are sure to attract to the chequered post. 



But to return from these digressions to tb.e cul- 

 tivation of the Pink, we must first observe that 

 new varieties can only be raised from seed, and 

 that when favourite kinds are so procured they 

 may be increased by pipings ; and although we 

 may have a sufficient number of these plants, this 

 practice must not be neglected, as old woody 

 plants frequently degenerate or perish during the 

 winter. During the winter of 1821-2, which 

 was unfavourable to Pinks, more than half the 

 Pinks in the country lost their character, so that 



