102 



CAEYOPHYLLE^ 



Cobham and Higham, in Kent, and has found it near Sandwich, in the same 

 county, with a stem nearly a yard high. The stem, however, is usually from 

 a foot to a foot and a half in height, the upper part being much branched. 

 It is rather downy, and has at its summit a little cluster of small rose- 

 coloured flowers, which are dotted with white. The whole appearance of 

 the plant is so like that of Pinks in general, that no one would mistake it ; 

 and one of the most obvious features of difference between this and the 

 next species, is the little white dots which always besprinkle its petals. This 

 Pink opens in July and August. It grows in fields, and on hedge banks. 

 It appears to be very uncertain or temporary in its localities, and usually 

 occurs in but small quantity wherever found. 



2. Proliferous Pink {D. prdlifer). — Stem smooth ; leaves rather rough 

 at the edge ; flowers in heads ; calyx scales membranous, transparent. Plant 

 annual. This rare species of wild Pink is found chiefly in gravelly pastures. 

 Its flowers are purplish-red, and grow on a stem which is about a foot in 

 height ; and the plant may be known from the last species by the dry brown 

 scales which enclose the heads of the flowers. Another characteristic of this 

 species is, that only one of the flowers in the cluster is open at a time. This 

 mark, which in the Proliferous Pink is constant, is shared, though in a less 

 degree, by the Deptford Pink ; as in this latter kind, we may occasionally, 

 though rarely, find more than one flower expanded. This plant flowers 

 in June. 



* * Floioers not clustered. 



3. Clove Pink, Carnation, or Clove Gillyflower (D. caryophyllus). 

 —Flower solitary ; calyx with four broad-pointed scales one-fourth of its 

 whole length ; petals notched ; leaves slender, glaucous, with smooth edges. 

 Plant perennial. Fragrant as are the wallflowers, which send their odours 

 from tower and turret, yet they are not more sweetly scented than this 

 "chronicler of crumbled halls." On the very summit of some of those 

 fortresses which our warlike ancestors built for the defence of the adjacent 

 country, this Pink grows in luxuriance, nodding to the breeze which sweeps 

 over the green ivy. No wonder that the sight of it on the old Norman keep 

 of Kochester Castle suggested the lines by H. G. Adams on this flower : — 



• The Castle Pink, the Castle Pink, 



How wildly free it waves, 

 Exposed to every blast that blows, 



To every storm that raves ; 

 It heedeth not the pelting rain. 



Nor whistling gales that sweep 

 Around the time-worn battlement, 



Around the massy keep ; 

 But smileth still, and flourisheth 



The various seasons through, 

 For God He nourisheth the plant 



With sunshine and with dew. 



' ' The swallow loves the Castle Pink ; 



And now and then a bee, 

 Borne upwards by a sudden gust 



Clings to it lovingly ; 

 Like one who journeyeth afar 



Where unknown realms extend, 

 Whose heart is gladden'd by the sight 



Of some familiar friend ; 

 The dusky rooks around it caw 



When evetide veils the sky, 

 They mark it blooming sweetly there, 



And know their home is nigh." 



This Pink grows on Sandown Castle, near Deal, on the old walls at 

 Norwich, and a few other places in England. It is not likely that it is truly 

 wild on any of these situations, but it has been known to grow on our castles 

 for at least a couple of hundred years ; and strange it is that the habitats 

 recorded for this and some other plants, should, century after century, be 



