ON THE CULTURE OF PINKS. 15 



the roots, and over-heating them ; which would much retard then- 

 taking root again. And, we must not neglect to cover them in this 

 manner for the space of seven or eight days, unless the weather 

 should be rain}-, which would save us that trouble : we must also not 

 forget to uncover them every evening, that they may have the bene- 

 fit of the freshness of the night, which, in that season is very propi- 

 tious to plants. 



In the next month of the following year, when the Pinks are 

 blown, we take a view of all that, are planted, and have any flowers ; 

 and, if any of them have finer flowers than ordinary, we put some 

 mark upon them, that we may have layers from them for increase, 

 which is one of the three ways in use to multiply the kind. This 

 first method of perpetuating Pinks, is properly speaking, a nursery. 



Next to the seed, which is the first way of increasing the kinds of 

 the Pink, comes that of the layers ; to succeed wherein, you must 

 follow the rules lam about to give you; but I presume that your 

 Pinks are worth preserving, and that your slips come from valuable 

 stocks. 



If so, take a penknife, or some other instrument of like nature 

 that cuts sharp, and, making choice among all the slips of the Pink, 

 of that whose stem is strongest and fairest, make an incision in it 

 through the middle of the nearest knot, to the foot of the plant, 

 taking care that this incision go no farther than half, or, at most, 

 than two-thirds of the knot : having done this, lay the slip gently 

 down, fasten it with a little crooked stick, support it with another 

 little stick, if you lay clown your slips in the naked earth, for if it be 

 in pots, the edges of them are sufficient to support them : then hav- 

 ing covered with a little mould the part that is in the ground, water 

 it well, and let it alone till it require your farther care. 



If it be in the naked earth that you lay down your layers, vou 

 must for the first three days take care to cover them, to keep them 

 from too much sun, which at first would do them mischief: and if it 

 he in pots, set them for the like number of days in the shade, and 

 bring them afterwards into an aspect, that will make them act more 

 vigorously. 



The layers ought to have taken root about the eighth or twelfth of 

 September at latest; which is what you must take care to see: and 

 if you find they have not, or that they have shot out only little fibres 

 that can scarce be seen, you must get ready a bed of reasonable 

 heat, and put in it the pots of the layers that have not yet taken 

 root : this warmth is such a friend to the plants, that it never fails to 

 actuate and give life to the parts that are disposed to shoot out the 

 roots. 



