32 The Pink. 



from seed, and that when favorite kinds are so procured, they 

 may be increased by pipings ; and even when a sufficient num- 

 ber has been procured, this must not be neglected, as old woody 

 plants frequently degenerate or perish during the winter. During 

 the winter of 1821-2, which was unfavorable to Pinks, more 

 than half the flowers in the country (England) lost their charac- 

 ter; so that the summer of 1822 produced only White Pinks, 

 excepting the old Red Pink, which has given name to a kind of 

 rose-color, and this variety we observed retained its color in all 

 situations. Mr. Hogg, a successful cultivator of this and some 

 other flowers, says the Pinks should never be suffered to remain 

 longer than two years without either change of soil or situation ; 

 and that when they are moved and transplanted in the spring, 

 they never do well or show half the beauty which those do that 

 are planted in September; the laced Pinks in particular appear 

 almost plain and without their distinguishing character. Era- 

 merton says, that Pink beds should be topdressed in the spring, 

 if you have a desire to excel in blooms, with some old night soil 

 or sugar-baker's scum, finely sifted and thrown over it ; and 

 adds, that the strong blowing plants should not be allowed to 

 bloom more than eight or ten blooms, and those that are weaker 

 and of a less size, not more than four. A month before the 

 plant blooms, it will be well to lop off all the weak stems which 

 are sent up, and to clip the lateral pods also with a pair of scis- 

 sors. Phillips adds, that if from five to seven plants should be 

 placed in a star-shape, six or nine inches apart, they will eventu- 

 ally appear as one large plant, and produce a fine effect, more 

 especially on grass lawns. When the roots become old and 

 woody they may be taken up and divided into slips, as it is de- 

 sirable to retain a good variety when it is once procured ; this 

 more especially, as its odor is of a refreshing nature, which, to- 

 gether with the fact, that it retains its beauty a long time with- 

 out fading, when placed in wet sand, and is but little affected 

 by the steam of hot dishes, will always make it an elegant ad 

 dition to the dinner table, where its long stalks will enable the 

 hand of grace to arrange it in tasteful groups. 



It is a well known property of many flowers, that they open 

 and close at regular periods, as accurately too, in many cases, as 

 a chronometer can mark the time ; species of the Broom and 

 Pink, some of which we have in the present number, display 



