ON PINKS. 267 



ARTICLE III.— ON THE PROPAGATION OF PINKS. 



BY MR. WILLIAM ST. CLAIR, OAK PARK, GALLOWAY. 



About ten years ago, I adopted the method recommended by Mr. 

 Mc.Thail, in his work on gardening, for the propagation of Pinks ; 

 as it differs in some respects from methods I have seen recommended 

 in the Cabinet, I beg leave to lay it before your readers. 



I use small frames of several sizes, none of them more than two feet 

 square, by ten inches high behind and seven in front ; on an exhausted 

 hotbed, or flat mound raised about six inches, having a full south 

 exposure, I lay about two inches of rotten dung and vegetable mould 

 chopped together ; on this the frame is set, and a mixture of light 

 loam, vegetable mould, and sand, put into it ; about two inches of this 

 is quite sufficient. When the old plants are coming into flower, I 

 prepare pipings much in the usual way, only I push clean off the 

 pair of leaves at the joint I cut the piping at, and shorten one or two 

 more pairs if I find it necessary: I water with a fine rose, sometime 

 before pushing in the pipiugs, and give a little to settle the earth 

 after inserting them ; when they are quite dry, I put on the sash, 

 and allow it to remain on till they have struck root, unless the wea- 

 ther has been very dull and moist, in that case, I remove the sash for 

 about half an hour when the weather clears up. I use slips of paper 

 for shading them, running a slip up the centre of each frame, and 

 putting something on it to hold it down ; I do not cover with this 

 shading more than half of the glass in the sash, and allow it to re- 

 main on day and night till the pipings are rooted, which will take 

 place in eighteen or twenty days ; during this time I allow them no 

 air, even in the hotest sunshine, but on perceiving that they have 

 begun to grow, I give air gradually and finally remove the sash. In 

 a short time their roots get into the chopped dung, which adheres 

 well to them in removing. 



By following the above method, every piping will strike root, and 

 though it has something scorching in its appearance, I find the wa- 

 tering they get at planting quite sufficient for them till they are 

 rooted, providing none of the external air is admitted. 



Should the above merit a place in your excellent publication, I 

 shall probably transmit to you for some future number, a few obser- 

 vations I have made in floriculture. 



Oak Park, Galloway, Oct. 17th, 1836. 



(We shall be obliged by the promised favours.— Conductor.) 



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