98 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[April, 



places where little else will do. The singles give 

 the most flowers. For cutting purposes, the 

 Monthly or Tree Carnations are lovely things, 

 though they are ugly growing plants, and do not 

 make much show on the grounds. The blue 

 Ageratum is not very showy, but blooms so pro- 

 fusely, that every one likes to have it. The old 

 Nierembergia gracilis is another not very showy 

 plant, but flowers so well, and is so satisfied with 

 indifierent treatment, that one cannot let it go. 

 The Gazania is curious, and makes a brilliant 

 show of orange and black on a fine day, but is 

 not well adapted to a hot place. The little Ouphea 

 platy centra has rather too much green for a show 

 plant, but if the soil is not too rich, gives fair 

 satisfaction. 



The Othonna crassifolia is perhaps one of the 

 best vase succulents ever introduced for sunny 

 places. The new hybrid Dianthuses are beauti- 

 ful bedding plants, about which see an article in 

 another column. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



POSTSCRIPT TO ARTICLE ON R. I. BENT 

 GRASS. 



BY DR. W. F. CHANNING. 



Since the article in last number was written I 

 have obtained specimens of Rhode Island Bent 

 grass from Charles H. Potter, which were cut suf- 

 ficiently young to retain and show the character- 

 istic inflorescence. On submitting these to Joseph 

 W. Congdon, Esq., of East Greenwich, an ac- 

 complished botanist, he reports as follows : 



"After a thorough and careful examination, I 

 am satisfied that the species is Agroslis canina, 

 L., or Brown Bent of the books. The flowers 

 when carefully examined with a glass, show that 

 there is only one husk or palea, wrapped around 

 the grain. On the back of the palea you find a 

 long bent awn, growing out of it near its base. 

 This usually projects more or less out of the 

 flower, but is hardly noticeable to the naked eye. 

 It usually disappears, being very fragile, after the 

 grass has blossomed." 



These observations which I have confirmed, 

 seem to leave no doubt as to the species. There 

 are one or two varieties of Agrostis canina, native 

 to the grassy mountains of New England, 

 Whether the Rhode Island Bent is one of these, 

 or different, remains to be ascertained. It is 

 certainly an upland grass, and is in thorough 



possession of the soil in Rhode Island, as if to 

 the manor born. Horticulturally and agricul- 

 turally at least, it seems to have been hitherto 

 unrecognized, except in southeastern New Eng- 

 land. 



[ As stated in a brief note in our last, this ex- 

 cellent lawn grass is certainly the Agrostis canina. 

 Ed. G. M.] 



REMONTANT PINKS. (CARNATION.) 



TRANSLATED FROM LA CULTIVATEUR,' LYONS, FRANCE, 

 BY MISS B. 



The culture of the Carnation is believed by 

 certain horticultural writers to have been for 

 upwards of 2000 years We know nothing of 

 what was practiced at that time, and horticultu- 

 ral Science as well as some others, dates but lit- 

 tle in the first century, so that we can only trace 

 the present history of th5 Monthly Carnation. 

 The Remontant Carnation originated in Lyons. 

 Mons. Dalmais, gardener to Mons. Lacure, (the 

 zealous patron of Horticulture in Lyons, and 

 formerly of our Horticultural society) obtained 

 the first true one nearly 36 years ago. 



It was sent out in 1844. Atim was the 

 product of artificial impregnation of a kind 

 known by the common name of Mahon or St. 

 Martin (because it flowered almost regularly 

 towards the middle of November) with the Car- 

 nation Bichon. This first result was afterwards 

 impregnated with the fancy and produced in 1846 

 numerous varieties of diff"erent colors. 



Mons. Schmitt one of the most earnest and in- 

 telligent Horticulturists of Lyons, followed Mons. 

 Dalmais in the track which he traced and in- 

 creased the collection to several remarkable va- 

 rieties, such as Arc en Ciel, and Polar Star, which 

 were cultivated for a few years but are lost now, 

 being replaced by better sorts. 



Towards 1850 a maladj-^ broke out amongst 

 these. Mons, Schmitt was discouraged and 

 abandoned them. It was at that time that Mons. 

 Alegatiere applied himself to their culture, and 

 in a short time made great progress, and it is to 

 this able and persevering Horticulturist that we 

 are indebted for the numerous Remontant sorts 

 so esteemed in England, Germany and Italy, and 

 also for the best means of cultivating them, 

 which we will describe. Mons. Alegatiere is not 

 contented to increase the Carnation so extensive- 

 ly as to put it on a level with the old Florist's 

 Pink (in the culture of which the Belgians and Hoi- 



