312 TEE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



eight or ten years ago. It seldom grew more than eight inches 

 high, and with single flowers that would cover a crown-piece. For 

 the last two years, with me, the same variety, or rather the one 

 so named, has grown eighteen inches high, with single flowers, but 

 little larger than a shilling-piece. I mention this fact to show the 

 reader that it is not advisable to save seed at home if any number of 

 varieties are allowed to flower together. As a rule, those who 

 grow seed for the public never grow more than one variety in 

 the same spot, and from their plants they remove and destroy all 

 that are of inferior character. 



All the varieties of Dianthus Chinensis, or Indian Pink, are 

 useful either for beds or mixed borders. For small beds they are 

 certainly well adapted, as they are of neat habit and continuous 

 bloomers, and less affected by winds and rain than many other 

 things. But perhaps it is in the mixed border where they are seen 

 to best advantage. The eclectic cultivator will say they are 

 beautiful anywhere, for we have few flowers that can compete with 

 them for depth and richness of colour. Moreover, they are so 

 easily grown that there is really no excuse if the poorest managed 

 garden does not possess them, as something new in this way is 

 always welcome. I can recommend a beautiful variety of the 

 Chinensis section, called denticulatum. It was obtained from a 

 continental source, and I hope will be soon distributed. Anything 

 more beautiful in the same class of flowers I have never seen. 

 It produces double and single flowers from the same packet of 

 seed, and even my old favourite Chinensis Heddewigi, with all 

 its brilliancy and richness of colour, will not bear comparison 

 with it. 



If the winter is not very severe, old plants of Indian Pink will 

 stand in the open border ; but although they flower earlier the next 

 year than seedlings, they are not so useful, as the old plants are 

 loose in growth. Those who have not the convenience of bottom- 

 heat in spring in which to sow the seed, may do so at once, rather 

 thinly in shallow pans. Place the pans at once on a warm shelf in 

 the greenhouse. If the soil is kept only just moist enough for the 

 seed to vegetate, they will be up in a month, when they must be 

 very carefully watered, and not allowed to remain too thick in the 

 seed pans, or they will be liable to damp off. They will want a 

 moderate amount of air as they get stronger, and this can be 

 accomplished by placing them near to some ventilator ; so that 

 really more air will not be required to be given than what will suit 

 the other occupants of the house. 



Autumn-sown plants may be planted out very early in May ; 

 but those sown in heat in March will flower the earlier if they are 

 nursed on in the frame for a fortnight later. After they are once 

 established in the beds, say in a month after they have been 

 planted, if the soil is really not light and sandy, they will take care 

 of themselves in respect to water ; for there are very few classes of 

 plants that will stand hot weather so well as all the tribe of 

 Dianthuses. This is much in their favour where labour or water 

 is scarce. 



