IRISH GARDENING 



179 



C. McKaiiii is vigorous, making long, 

 pointed, green leaves in abundance, but the 

 flower-heads are composed of disk florets, with 

 ray flowers of a dingy, unattractive puce colour, 

 of little ornamental value. 



C. spectabilis is better known and hardier 

 than most, forming dense tufts of woolly leaves 

 some 6 inches long, and usually flowering 

 freely; the ray flowers pure white, and the 

 heads measuring about an inch and a half wide. 



C. verbascifolia is similar to C. coriacea, less 

 hairy perhaps, but felty on the under side. 

 The flower-heads are large and showy, the outer 

 florets white. The illustration shows a group 

 of this species flourishing in the collection of 

 Mr. Walpole at Moimt Usher. 



Other good and interesting species with 

 showy flower-heads are — C. Monroi, C. incann, 

 with short leaves and white outer florets; C. 

 longi folia, with narrow, bronzy-green leaves, 

 and large heads of white flowers, on 9-inch 

 stems. 



C. holosericea — flower-heads 2 inches or 

 more, ray flowers white, leaves 6 inches long, 

 green above and felty below ; while two others 

 met with are C. pciiolahi and C. viscosa, both 

 attractive plants. 



Ordinary well-drained sandy loam seems to 

 suit Celmisias fairly well, and a position not 

 fully exposed to the mid-day sun. Overhead 

 moisture is detrimental, and should be avoided 

 as far as possible. 



Pinks for the Rock Garden. 



BoTANiCALLY the Pinks are called Dianthus, 

 and are distinguished from other members of 

 the order CarijuphyUcce, to which they belong, 

 by having tico styles and a cylindrical calyx, 

 with two or more bracts at the base, somewhat 

 like an outer calyx. 



There is a large number of species scattered 

 through Europe, temperate Asia and N. Africa, 

 but in many cases it is difficult to get the true 

 species. Under cultivation, the various species 

 seem to hybridise rather freely; in any case, 

 seedlings raised from seeds purchased or ob- 

 tained from collections at home and abroad 

 exhibit much diversity, and frequently differ 

 vastly from authoritative descriptions. 



On the other hand, some of the best for our 

 present purpose come very true from seeds, 

 and in some instances no doubt improved forms 

 have been obtained by selection. 



Very few of the species are difficult to grow, 

 and are just as easy to propagate. Seeds sown 

 when ripe in an ordinary compost of equal parts 

 of sandy soil and leaf-mould germinate readily, 

 and are easily grown on by pricking off, when 



large enough to handle, into a similar compost, 

 with the addition of a little finely-powdered 

 old mortar rubble. Cuttings made of single 

 growths and dibbled into sandy soil root readily 

 if placed in a cool, shady place during summer. 

 Water sliould be applied carefully after the first 

 soaking, until roots are formed, after which 

 more water and air may be supplied. Pinks 

 grow naturally on old walls and rocky cliffs, 

 and hence enjoy plenty of light, gritty soil and 

 perfect drainage. 



The following is a selection of the best for 

 the Rock Garden : — 



Diantlius alpinus is decidedly one of the 

 most popular species, and is usually found in 

 every garden where alpine plants are grown. 

 It forms tufts some 3 or .4 inches high, leaves 

 green, and surmounted in summer by numerous 

 large, well-formed flowers of a rich rose colour, 

 with crimson spots towards the base of the 

 petals. There is a white variety, which is not 

 unattractive, though not a really good white, 

 the petals usually being spotted, as in the type. 



Dianthus atrorubens forms tufts of rather 

 long, glaucous leaves, and bears its flowers in 

 close heads, terminating stalks some 15 inches 

 or more in height; the colour is rich dark red, 

 and the flowers appear later than many others. 

 The Pink known as Carton Variety is a par- 

 ticularly robust form, of fine colour, making a 

 brilliant display in late summer. 



DiantJius ccesius, the well known " Cheddar 

 Pink," is a most attractive plant for the Rock 

 Garden. From among tufts of short, glaucous 

 leaves the fragrant, rose-coloured flowers are 

 produced from June onwards. Quite a number 

 of varieties of the " Cheddar Pink " are in cul- 

 tivation, and all are worthy of inclusion, if 

 space can be spared for them. A double- 

 flowered form is sometimes met with, and is 

 showy, though less compact in habit, than the 

 wild species. Bickharn's Variety and Margaret 

 are two compact forms, more like the type, but 

 with rather better flowers. 



Diantlius callhonus is near to /). alpinus in 

 habit and appearance, bearing large rose- 

 coloured flowers, not unlike those of the latter 

 species, but differing in the coloured zone at 

 the centre of the flower; a first-rate plant of 

 low growth, not exceeding 3 or 4 inches when 

 planted in gritty soil. 



Dianthus calalpinus is a hybrid between 

 alpinus and callizonus, and combines the good 

 qualities of both parents, producing freely its 

 deep rose flowers. 



Dianthus cinnabarinus is not easy to cul- 

 tivate, and is anything but a neat grower. It 

 is sparse and twiggy in growth, often nearly 

 leafless at flowering time, but the colour is 

 superb — a brilliant orange red. A good group 



