THE WILD PINKS 119 



filled with a well drained soil composed of loam and 

 leaf-mould mixed with some sharp silver sand. Sow 

 thinly, and cover the seed lightly. Transfer to pots, or 

 shallow boxes will answer the same purpose, and place 

 in a warm frame or house in which there is gentle 

 warmth, and when the seedlings are an inch and a half 

 high prick them out into other boxes, but still keeping 

 them in a frame. Air must be given, however, on all 

 favourable occasions to promote a strong, or what 

 the gardener calls a stocky, growth, and in the first 

 days of June they may go to the places they are to 

 beautify during the summer months. A sowing may 

 also be made in the open garden in June, but this 

 is not always satisfactory ; it is better to treat the 

 Chinese Pink as a tender annual, and to sow in 

 the way suggested. When a sowing is made in July, 

 flowers are not forthcoming before the following 

 year. Choose an open spot, and sow in drills of 

 fine soil about six inches apart, and cover the seed 

 very lightly. While germination is proceeding shade 

 a little, but remove this when the seedlings appear. 

 Transplant to the borders in August. It is a common 

 mistake to leave annuals crowded in the seed beds, 

 for plants treated in this way are rarely a success. 

 When it is found impossible to prepare a permanent 

 place for them, it is better to prick them out again, 

 giving each seedling ample space to develop, until 

 the positions they are to flower in are ready for 

 their reception. The seed may also be sown in late 

 August, the seedlings wintered under glass and planted 

 out in spring. This means a display of flowers before 



