230 FLORA DOMEST1CA. 



ing. If there be convenient room for it in-doors, the seed 

 may be sown a month earlier, and kept under cover till 

 the beginning or middle of April. The plant will decay in 

 the autumn. 



This corn is in many places made into bread for the 

 poor people ; according to Kay, this custom prevails in 

 Padua ; or, at least, did an hundred and fifty years since. 



Mr. Southey tells us, that in Brazil a spirituous liquor is 

 prepared from it*. Koster says, that " boiled maize is a 

 common breakfast for the slaves of the cotton districts ; the 

 dish resembles thick pease-soup, and is far from being un- 

 palatable, if sugar or treacle is added. It is called ango de 

 milho (milho is their name for maize) -f." 



INDIAN PINK. 



DIANTHUS CHINENSIS. 



Called also China Pink. French, 1'ceillet de la Chine. 



THE Indian Pink is generally considered as an annual 

 plant, and therefore the roots are not often preserved ; 

 but, if they are planted in a dry soil, they will often pro- 

 duce finer flowers the second year than the first, and in 

 greater number. It is a very ornamental plant, from the 

 various and beautiful colours of its blossoms. It may be 

 sown early in April ; if in a pot six inches wide, only one ; 

 but they look better sown in a box, many together, about 

 six inches apart. They may stand abroad : in dry weather 

 they should be watered three times a week. They will 

 flower from July till the approach of frost ; if they are 

 then cut down, the root will generally put out new stalks? 

 and flower well the next year. 



* Southey's Brazil, vol iii. p. 255. 

 t Koster 's ditto, vol. ii, p. 189. 



