PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



227 



for years. Every two or three years, in autumn, I sprinkle a little 

 manure over the surface, which I fancy is beneficial. It likes neither 

 too much sun nor too much shade. There is a variegated-leaved 

 variety (fig. 438), which, when carefully grown in a pot, presents a fine 

 appearance. There is also a variety of a pinkish hue, which, however, 

 is not to be compared with the natural plant. 



After the lily of the valley, and commencing at the end of May 

 or beginning of June, we have in succession the Pink, Picotee, and 

 Carnation. The double 

 white pink (Dianthus 

 plumarius, fig, 439) 

 flowers first, other 

 florists' varieties (fig. 

 440) speedily follow, 

 and as soon as they 

 disappear the picotees 

 and carnations embel- ^.c 439.-white Pi„k. f,o. 44o.-Variegated Pi„ic. 



lish the garden. They may all be raised from seed sown in a cold 

 frame ; and plants raised one spring flower the next year. Varieties of 

 pinks may be readily propagated in June by taking the young shoots 

 and cutting them at a joint. These are then placed in a puddle 

 made by stirring up the earth with water till it is 

 converted into mud ; and as the water' drains off", 

 the earth comes into close contact with the cutting. 

 A hand-glass covers all, when after a few weeks 

 a very large proportion will be found to have taken 

 root. These are pricked out, and transplanted in 

 spring, when they flower. It is important for a 

 garden to have an abundance of pinks. 



The delicate odour of pinks and other flowers 

 may be obtained by a process devised by my son. 

 He uses a glass funnel (fig. 441) with the narrow end drawn to a 

 point. In this funnel he places lumps of ice with salt, by which a 

 very low temperature is produced. The funnel is supported on an 



Q 2 



Fig. 441. 



