JUNE] FLOWER GARDEN. 445 



be taken up oftener than every second or third year, and then only 

 to give them fresh earth, as they never increase by offsets, and are 

 only propagated by seed, or by cutting the roots through across the 

 crowns, which latter method is, generally, very unsuccessful. 



They continue a long time in bloom, and display flowers of a 

 curious structure and delicately beautiful. The pots containing these 

 roots must be kept, during the summer months, where they will not 

 be much exposed to the sun, and in that time should have but little 

 water, as their roots are, generally, then in an inactive state, and 

 would soon rot by too much moisture. 



All the sorts may be propagated by seed, which should be sown 

 soon after being ripe, or early in spring, and covered near half an 

 inch deep; they must always be protected from frost and also from 

 the summer sun ; the September following, you are to lay over the 

 roots, not covering the leaves, half an inch or better of good loose 

 sandy earth, and during the following winter and ensuing summer 

 protect them as before. Any time in the summer of the second or 

 third year that the leaves are decayed, take up the roots, and replant 

 them in pots of fresh earth, covering them one inch deep ; here they 

 remain till they flower, which will generally be in the second and 

 third years after sowing. 



PINKS. 



Your superb pinks, during the time of bloom, should be defended 

 from the sun by an awning of some kind, and the soil ought to be 

 kept regularly moist by soft water, administered between the plants, 

 carefully avoiding to wet the blossoms. 



The most approved method of propagating pinks, is by piping 

 them as directed for carnations; they seldom fail to strike sufficient 

 root in two or three weeks ; when well rooted, they may be trans- 

 planted into an open part of the garden, on a bed of common garden 

 mould, fresh dug up, where it will in a few weeks be easily discerni- 

 ble which are the most proper to place on the best bed for bloom. 

 The time to pipe pinks is immediately previous to, or during the 

 bloom, or, indeed, as soon as the new shoots are grown of a sufficient 

 length for that purpose. The surest and readiest way, however, is to 

 lay down the shoots two inches under the soil immediately after 

 flowering. 



New sorts of pinks are produced from seed, but this should be 

 gathered from such as have superior properties. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF A FINE DOUBLED PINK. 



The stem should be strong and erect, and not less than twelve 

 inches high. The calyx rather smaller and shorter, but nearly 

 similar in form and proportion to that of a carnation, as well as the 

 formation of the flower, which should not be less than two inches 

 and a half in diameter. 



The petals should be numerous, large, broad, and substantial, and 

 have very finely fringed or serrated edges, free from large .coarse 



