332 On the Cultivation of the Pink. 



against this method of propagating the carnation; even in Eng- 

 land not more than one half of the pipings that are put in ever 

 take root; and were it not that some of tlie best sorts make very- 

 little and very short shoots, and are also very brittle, and diffi- 

 cult to propagate by layers, I should recommend that the piping 

 of carnations should be discontinued: but, as the most difficult 

 sorts to propagate are generally the most valuable, 1 will make 

 a quotation from Paxton, which appears to me to contain the best 

 information on this subject. Pjepare a slight hot-bed in an 

 eastern aspect, and as soon as the heat is moderate, lay on about 

 six inches thickness of light mould, sifted finely. No piping 

 should have less than two or three complete joints. Take off 

 the cutting horizontally, just below the second or third joint, and 

 merely cut oft' the leaves from the joint that is to be inserted into 

 the soil, but leave the others entire, except the tops, which cut 

 off square, a little above the centre of the crown of the shoot. 

 After giving the earth of the bed a moderate watering, place on 

 a hand or bell glass to mark the boundaries in which the pipings 

 are to be planted; plant the pipings half an inch deep, and at 

 least an inch and a half or two inches distant from each other. 

 Many authors, and among the number Paxton, say, not more 

 than an inch apart. This I conceive to be an error, and one of 

 the causes of failure in piping: by crowding too many pipings 

 under the glass, they hold too much moisture, and damp off. 

 After you have put in all your pipings, give them a gentle water- 

 ing, to fix the soil closely about them; let them remain uncover- 

 ed until the leaves are dry; then place on the glasses, and press 

 them gently down to prevent the admission of air; give the pip- 

 ings a little morning sun, but always shade them when the heat 

 becomes strong, which may be done by covering the glasses 

 with mats. It is necessary, after the first week, that the glasses 

 be occasionally taken oft' to admjit air, but this must never be 

 done when the sun is powerful, but rather in cloudy weather, or 

 early in the morning. When the pipings are watered, never 

 place the glasses over them until the leaves are dry, and then not 

 without first drying the glasses, or mildew will be the conse- 

 quence; and this must be continued until the pipings are well 

 rooted, which will be in about six weeks, when the glasses may 

 be removed altogether. When there are any very choice varie- 

 ties, I would recommend that they be piped with tumblers, and 

 put only one piping under each glass. I have almost invariably 

 succeeded in this manner, when the piping in mass has been 

 nearly, if not quite, a failure. 



The Cullivation and Propagation of the Garden Pink (D'l- 

 anthus plumarius). — The pink is more hardy than the carnation, 

 and may be propagated with success, by dividing the roots in the 

 spring; but as these divisions never make such good plants, oj 



