BOUDJILt riXJiil. 67 



that is, of one colour only. The true pinks, whether show 

 or border flowers, are generally esteemed for their spicy 

 fragrance. But there is a class also much valued that 

 are often quite wanting in fragrance : these are known as 

 "■ mule" pinks, being hybrids of Dianthus plumarius with 

 other species, such as, perhaps, D. casius, D. sinensis, and 

 D. superius. The mule pinks are not only useful as border 

 plants, but are often grown in pots for forcing, being easily 

 managed to supply flowers throughout the winter, and more 

 especially at the dawn of spring, when flowers are much in 

 demand, and are often very scarce. 



There is no flower in the garden on which the amateur 

 may with greater advantage bestow attention than on the 

 pink. The shortest and surest way of securing a fine lot 

 is to sow a pinch of good seed in the month of April, and 

 raise the young stock in a frame. Sow in pots filled with 

 sandy loam, and keep these moderately moist, and closely 

 shut up and shaded in the frame until the young plants 

 appear, when the tactics must be changed in favour of air 

 and light. All seeds germinate more regularly and vigo- 

 rously if screened from the light, but the growth that young 

 plants make in a subdued light is likely to be weak and 

 unhealthy. Give them as much air as the weather will 

 allow, with water enough, but no excess, for the pink is a 

 dry plant, and sooner suffers from damp than cold. When 

 they are large enough to handle, plant them out on a 

 border of fine soil in a sunny' position, at about three inches 

 apart. In the event of having to prepare a border for 

 them, make it up of sifted turfy loam and sharp sand in 

 about equal proportions. When the pinks begin to crowd 

 one another, take them up, and plant them where they are 

 to remain for flowering. 



