CARYOPHYLLEZ. 
few-flowered ; leaves linear-lanceolate, serrulated ; peduncles 1- 
flowered ; outer calycine scales imbricated, ovate, acute, shorter 
than the inner ones and calyx; petals fringed. 2. H. Native 
of Tunis in sand. Corolla pale rose-coloured, one-half smaller 
than those of D. plumarius. (Desf.) 
Serrulated-leaved Pink. Fl. June, Aug. PI. 1 foot. 
115 D. pruma‘rius (Lin. spec. 589. hort. ups. 105. no. 4.) 
glaucous ; stem 2-3-flowered ; teeth of calyx obtuse; calycine 
scales somewhat ovate, very short, mucronulate, close pressed ; 
petals jagged, multifid, bearded, leaves linear, with scabrous 
margins. 2/.H. Native of Europe? D. dubius, Horn. hort. 
hafn.-1. p. 408? D. moschatus, hort. Par. D. plumarius is the 
type of the common garden Pink. In France it is called Mig- 
nardise. The flowers are either double or single, white, purple, 
spotted or variegated, and more or less fringed on the margins, 
sweet-scented. 
Var. B, horténsis (Ser. mss. and D. C. prod. 1. p. 363.) 
petals bearded in the throat. D. horténsis, Schrad. ex Willd. 
enum. p. 469. 
Var. y, Porténsis (Ser. mss. and D. C. prod. 1. p. 263.) 
leaves smaller ; petals hardly fringed. D. Porténsis, Libosch. 
ex herb. Balb. 
From D. plumarius spring all the varieties of the common 
garden pink. As a florist flower the Pink is of much less 
antiquity than the Carnation; it is scarcely mentioned by 
Gerarde, and Parkinson gives very few varieties. It was chiefly 
grown as a border flower till within the last 50 years, since which 
it has been greatly improved, and many fine varieties originated. 
Being one of the hardiest and least expensive of fine flowers, it 
is much cultivated by operative mechanics and manufacturers 
round large towns, and no where to such an extent as at Paisley 
by the weavers there. The varieties most cultivated are chiefly 
those called Pheasants’-eyes. Cob Pinks are a large sort 
Seemingly intermediate between pinks and picotee carnations ; 
red early pinks are smaller plants than Cobs or Pheasants’-eyes, 
and seem to have sprung from Cobs and D. arméria, or D. del- 
totdes. The Paisley growers reckon above 300 hundred varieties 
of the Pheasants’-eyes. Parkinson in 1629 only mentions 6 or 
8 sorts. Ray in 1704 says there are many sorts, but of little 
esteem. Hogg in 1820 gives a list of 100 names, containing the 
best sorts in England. Davey, who has raised numerous fine 
Varieties, enumerates double that number. The culture and 
Propagation of the Pink is the same as that of the Carnation, 
excepting that it is less frequently kept in pots or frames, but 
planted in beds of fresh loamy soil, or into the flower border, 
and the small side shoots reduced in the autumn, in order to 
throw more strength into those intended to produce flowers the 
following season. 
Criterion of a fine double Pink. ‘ The stem should be strong 
and erect, and not less than 12 inches high. The calyx smaller 
and shorter than that of the carnation, but nearly similar in pro- 
Portion, as well as in the formation of the flower, which should 
yt be less than 2 inches and a half in diameter. The petals 
ș ould be large, broad, and substantial, and have very fine 
winged or serrated edges, free from deep notches or indentures ; 
n short, they approach nearest to perfection when the fringe or 
could oe IS so fine as searcely to be discernible, but if they 
broad e obtained entire it would be a very desirable object. The 
be mee part of the lamina or broad end of the petals, should 
pink "rect y white and distinct from the eye, unless it be a laced 
the e at 1s, ornamented with a continuation of the colour of 
pro ye round it, bold, clean, and distinct, having a considerable 
spot TE of white in the centre, perfectly free from tinge or 
d pù i e eye should consist of a bright or dark rich crimson 
black T resembling velvet, but the nearer it approaches to 
» ae More it is esteemed; its proportion should be about 
II. Diantuvs. 395 
equal to that of the white, that it may neither appear too large 
nor too small.” Maddock. 
Propagation. Pinks are ordinarily increased by pipings or 
cuttings, Sometimes by layers to preserve rare sorts, and by seed 
for new varieties. The time to commence putting in pipings is 
previous to or during the time of flowering, or as soon as the 
barren shoots are grown of a sufficient length for that purpose. 
Hogg commences about the 21st of June. The operation is 
the same as for pipings of carnations, only some do not apply 
bottom heat. This last, however, is the more certain mode, and 
the pipings are ready to remove sooner, and generally in a fort- 
night or three weeks. For seed proceed as directed for carnations. 
Soil. Maddock says, A good fresh loamy soil dug 2 feet 
deep, and manured with a stratum of cow-dung, 2 years old, 
mixed with an equal proportion of earth; this stratum to be 
about 6 inches thick, and placed 5 or 6 inches below the sur- 
face, is all the preparation that appears necessary for this flower. 
General culture. As soon as the pipings are struck, they are 
to be removed and planted on a bed of common garden mould, 
and after a few weeks the strongest of them should be removed 
into the blooming bed. This bed should be raised 3 or 4 inches 
above the paths. The plants intended for the principal bed for 
bloom should be planted upon it in August, or early in Sep- 
tember, as they do not blow quite so well if removed later in 
the season ; they should be planted at about the distance of 9 
inches from each other, and the bed should be laid rather convex 
or rounding, to throw off excess of rain, but will require no 
other covering than a very slight one, in case of severe frost. 
The surface of the bed should be stirred up a little as it inclines to 
bind or become firm. There should never be more than 10 or 12 
flowers allowed to bloom on the same plant, the lateral smaller 
buds should be pulled off a month or 6 weeks before blooming, 
taking care always to leave the leading bud which terminates 
the shoot ; by this means the flowers will be much larger than 
they otherwise would be. Strong healthy plants, consisting 
of a leading stem in the centre, with but little surrounding in- 
crease, are the best to select for the best bed, these will seldom 
put up more than 1 or 2 stems, which will, however, be very 
strong, grow tall, and produce 3 or 4 flowers, as large and fine 
as the kind is capable of. 
Those buds which become much swelled nearly at the time of 
flowering, and appear in danger of bursting, should be tied up in 
the same manner directed for carnations. It is very desirable 
to have a long calyx, for it is hardly possible to prevent those 
with short calyxes from bursting. But in this case it is much 
better to assist nature by making an incision at each tooth of the 
calyx, as far down as may be thought necessary, in order to let 
the petals regularly out on every side, and preserve the circular 
form of the blossoms; for if left to nature, the calyx will burst 
on one side only, and produce a loose irregular unsightly flower. 
When the flower-stems are grown sufficiently long they should 
be supported with small sticks, but these ought to be tied in 
such a manner as to keep the blossoms distinct from each other, 
that the whole may have an easy graceful appearance. Those 
who can bestow sufficient time and attention to the bloom of 
pinks, may contribute greatly to their effect by placing circular 
cards in the manner directed for carnations, but as these cards 
are apt to warp from heat and wet, it is necessary to replace them 
from time to time: however, some sorts do not require any 
assistance of this kind, particularly if their guard petals are sulli- 
ciently strong to support the rest. At the time of bloom, which 
is about the end of June, it is proper to defend the bed by an 
awning or covering : they, however, should always enjoy the 
advantage of light and air, and the soil should be kept regularly 
moist by soft water administered between the plants, carefully 
avoiding to wet the blossoms. Maddock, Florist Direct. p. 220. 
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