THE MANUAL OF GARDENING. 
81 
clumps, they have a brilliant appearance, especially when the 
sun shines : they make a very pleasing show when planted in a 
row near the edge of the border. They may be taken up 
annually, but not kept out till they commence growing. When 
they are out of flower their grass or leaves may be tied in knots, 
but not cut off till withered, or it will injure the bulb. They 
thrive best when they are only taken up once in three years, 
when abundance of off-sets will be found, and which are the 
means of their propagation. The Crocus should be planted 
about two inches deep in the ground. Their colours are yellow, 
purple, and striped : they sometimes blossom as early as Jan’y* 
The corms of the various sorts of Crocuses must be planted with 
a trowel, at the depth of about two inches, allowing six inches 
from plant to plant; or in patches, of five or six each, in fronts of 
clumps or borders, putting them in late in the autumn. There 
are upwards of twenty named varieties; the blue and small 
yellow are the least esteemed : the large yellow, cloth of gold, 
Scotch, white, and purple, are next, and the saffron the next in 
value. 
Conv allaria, the Lily of the Valley , is a perennial, of small 
height, but of great beauty and fragrance. It likes a shady spot, 
and is propagated by dividing the roots early in the spring. 
Dianthus (the Pink ). — These beautiful flowers very much 
resemble the Carnation. They are sometimes raised from seed ; 
the usual method of propagation is by pipings. When layering 
is practised, use the method recommended under the head 
“ Carnation.” The time to pipe pinks is during the bloom, when 
the new shoots, which must be employed, are of sufficient length 
for that purpose. The cuttings to be piped must be shoots 
without flower-buds, having two complete joints, being cut off 
horizontally with a sharp knife close under the second joint. 
The leaves also must be trimmed off from the joint which is to 
be inserted in the soil. W 7 hen the pipings are prepared, throw 
them into a basin of soft water. The place for their reception 
ought to be a slight hot-bed ; but a good border, having a western 
aspect, and a light mould finely sifted, and moderately moistened, 
will succeed very well. A hand-glass to cover the pipings will 
be indispensable. The dimensions of the glass having been 
marked on the spot, take the pipings one by one out of the 
water, and in this wet state press them, with a steady hand, into 
the earth, about half an inch deep, just to cover the joint, and no 
more. Plant them about half an inch apart. If any water is 
given, it must be very little, with a very fine rose water-pot, or 
the earth will be unsettled from the bottom of the pipings. 
When the leaves are quite dry, place the hand-glass over them, 
forcing the edges a little way into the earth to keep out the air. 
