138 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



Pink (Dianthus plumarius, vars.J. The fancy or florist's 

 race of pinks is extensive : they require every year to be 

 struck from pipings, which are the shoots that spring out 

 round the base of the stem ; these are taken off at blooming 

 time, or rather later, and each shoot is cut across just be- 

 low the third joint ; the lower pair of leaves from the heart 

 being cut clean away. A bed is made of rich sandy loam 

 and dung, and the surface is made quite soft with water, in 

 which state pipings or shoots are inserted all over it not 

 more than an inch apart. After drying for an hour or two, it 

 is covered with a hand-glass, which is not disturbed for some 

 days, and then only to water the pipings if they require it. 

 A good deal can be done towards moistening them by 

 watering outside the glass. In three weeks they will have 

 struck root, and the glass may then be tilted a little to admit 

 some air, and in a few days more may be taken away, that 

 they may have full benefit of the air. After a few days, they 

 may be taken up, and planted out in four-feet beds : six 

 inches apart every way will be the proper distance for the 

 plants. The soil in which they grow should be the loam 

 from rotted turfs ; or, if ordinary garden soil be used of 

 necessity, a good dressing of dung should be forked in be- 

 fore the pinks are planted. In May, when they send up 

 their bloom-stalks, remove all but the best from each plant, 

 and, as these advance, take off all but two or three buds from 

 each stalk ; and when these have swelled almost to burst- 

 ing, but not quite, tie them fast round the middle with a 

 piece of bass-matting, and tear the bud-cover down to the 

 tie at its five natural divisions. After the bloom is over, the 

 grass, as it is called, that is, the young shoots, will be 

 ready to strike for the next year. The best double Pinks do 

 not seed freely, but they do occasionally ; and such seed 

 should be prized as a means towards obtaining new vari- 



