CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 6$ 



few small egg-shaped leaves at the top, whence spring the three 

 comparatively large purple flowers with bearded keels which 

 make up the inflorescence. Best adapted for culture on rock- 

 work in sandy peat and loam, or where the soil is congenial it 

 may also be grown in the mixed border. Flowers throughout 

 the summer. 



P. vulgaris {Co?nmon Milkwort). — This pretty little British 

 plant is very variable in size and colour and all the parts of the 

 plant, and has in consequence been divided into several species 

 from British variations alone. The general appearance of the 

 plant is tufted, or diffuse and weak, with numerous small egg- 

 shaped or lanceolate dark -green leaves, and handsome terminal 

 racemes of small flowers, blue, purple, pink, or white, in various 

 shades, and the lower petal or keel having a tiny beard at its 

 tip. It does best on rockwork left very much to itself, although 

 it succeeds very fairly in the front lines of the mixed border in 

 sandy loam and peat. 



CARYOPHYLLACE^. ' 



The glory of this rather extensive natural order is Dianthus^ 

 one of the most beautiful and fragrant of herbaceous genera, 

 furnishing as it does the various Pinks, Carnations, and Sweet- 

 williams, and many more simple and less pretentious, but not 

 less beautiful and elegant species, generally rare in gardens, 

 but deserving a place in every collection of herbaceous and 

 alpine plants. But besides Dia?itJms there are other genera, 

 varying much in ornamental features from it, among which we 

 shall find many species fitted for the adornment of the hardy 

 flower-garden, and for other ornamental purposes. There will 

 necessarily be some special directions for culture under the 

 head of various species, but those that immediately follow are 

 sufficient for the majority, the requirements of which are most 

 simple and free from details of a troublesome nature to ama- 

 teurs — always an admirable point in plants specially recom- 

 mended to them; and the majority of the plants of this natural 

 order are so. All the species delight most in light rich loam, 

 more sandy than clayey; and they succeed in a variety of 

 aspects, but generally prefer sunny ones ; — but these points will 

 be noticed more in detail where necessary afterwards. 



Arenaria (Sandivort). — This is a low, tufted, or carpet-like 

 growing group, rather extensive in species, but greatly confused 



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