72 CARYOPHYLLACE.^. 



short stems crowned with large pure rose-coloured flowers. 

 Adapted only for culture on rockwork, or in pots. 



D. petrseus {Rock Pink). — A dwarf tufted species growing 

 about 6 inches high, producing rather dense masses of hard 

 narrow leaves sharply pointed. The flower-stems bear usually 

 but one large pink flower, the margins of the petals being deeply 

 and irregularly cut. Flowers in July and August. Native of 

 Hungar}', and adapted to either the rockwork or mixed border 

 in sandy but moist soil. 



D. plumarius {Garden Pmk). — This is the reputed parent of 

 the varieties of the florists' Pink, but there is reason to believe 

 that other species have had a share in the production of them ; 

 for although the race more especially cultivated for exhibition, 

 and called Pheasant's-eyes by the florists, may be reckoned un- 

 mistakable progeny of plumarius., there are many sorts which 

 cannot be classed with these, and seem to have strong relation- 

 ship to deltoides and other species near it in character and the 

 Carnation. To enumerate varieties and make selections here 

 would be an endless and not a very satisfactory task. These, along 

 with all florists' flowers, have large additions of new claimants 

 for honours annually brought to their ranks, which, whether im- 

 provements or not, for a time hold a place, and disturb or dis- 

 place older varieties in the collections of private growers. It 

 is best for the purpose merely of adorning the mixed border 

 and rockwork to select those that are hardiest, and that grow 

 and flower freely, irrespective of fine flowers, as popularly 

 judged. Among these, the best that I know are the old 

 fringed white and red, ver}' double flowers, and sweet and early, 

 lasting also long, and growing well in almost any kind of soil. 

 Anne Boleyn is admirable for the beauty and fragrance of its 

 flowers where it grows well, but is difficult to manage in heavy 

 wet soil ; and there is a race of perpetual-flowering Pinks that 

 are valuable both for their sustained blooming habit and 

 adaptability to forcing. Garibaldi, with the habit of Anne Boleyn, 

 is one of the finest of these. D. plimiarius, in the normal state, 

 is not worth growing beside most of its varieties. It is a very 

 glaucous diffuse-growing plant, with very few flowers to the 

 stem. The flowers are white, with a dark-purple centre, and 

 the petals fringed on the margins. Flowers in summer. Native 

 of many parts of Europe, and is naturalised in some parts of 

 England on old walls -and rocks. 



D. superbus {Superb Fink). — This beautiful species is distin- 

 guished at a glance by the peculiarity of the petals being 

 pinnately divided for half their length. The stems are erect, 

 j]4 foot high, surmounted by a loose panicle -of the pecu- 



