]6 OX THK CULTURli OF PINKS. 



Indeed the layers that are in the naked earth have not this advan- 

 tage ; for which reason too, more of them die away than of those that 

 are in the pots . hut on the other hand, this does not always happen ; 

 and I myself have seen layers that had not retaken root within that 

 time, lie in that condition in the naked earth all the winter, and take 

 root towards the end of March, which is no small evidence against 

 such as are over-cautious in the management of Pinks. 



Among all the productions that a stock of a Pink produces, there 

 are always some of them that are much less than the others ; and 

 these are they we leave to keep up the chief stock. 



Now since the earth in which we set the layers is generally light, 

 and hy consequence unprovided of any large store of moisture ; you 

 must be careful to water the layers very often, and not to expose 

 them to too great a heat. 



I wonder why the name of suckers has been given to that part 01 

 the Pink we cut off, and that has no root; and why it was not rather 

 called a slip, which is always taken for a small rootless branch of a 

 nlant, and which we thrust into the earth to make it take root : but 

 i^ point of art we must always conform to the custom that has been 

 ljuf established: I say then that the third expedient made use of to 

 multiply Pinks is by the suckers, which is performed in the follow- 

 ing manner. 



Consider your pink -stock, and having cast your eyes over it, re- 

 solve within yourself which suckers you will make use of: the middle 

 sized are always the best : when you have done this, take your scis- 

 sors, and cut off your suckers within two or three joints of the middle, 

 which is the place whence the leaves spring out; and take care it 

 have no more : when you have thus cut it off, slit it into four, by 

 the lower end to the joint next that end, and from thence guide that 

 incision to the second joint, and having taken off the tops of its leaves 

 to within three inches of the middle of the sucker, throw it into the 

 sun to make it wither a little : when you see it begin to languish, 

 take it a^ain and throw it into fresh water, and leave it there till you 

 see it has recovered new vigour ; then take it out of the water, and 

 having your pots of earth or wood ready, and filled at the bottom 

 with kitchen-garden earth, covered over with at least two inches of 

 mould, thrust in your suckers to the second joint, press down the 

 earth a little against the part you thrust in, water it plentifully, and 

 get your suckers in the shade : do this, and I will answer for the 

 success. 



(To be continued.) 



