CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 7^ 



liar flowers, which are large, pink, or purplish, and white, and 

 fragrant. Most suitable for the mixed border in very light dry 

 soil, it is impatient of wet in winter, and from this cause liable 

 to destruction. Stock may be kept up by cuttings and by seed; 

 and the latter, in the way recommended for Sweet-williams, is 

 the best method to adopt in order to keep up unfailing supplies. 

 Flowers throughout summer till late. Native of many countries 

 of Europe. 



Gypsophila. — This genus is characterised more by grace 

 than striking beauty of flowers. The flowers are small, but 

 produced in great numbers in loose graceful panicles. They 

 are plants that are easily cultivated in any common garden-soil, 

 and are propagated by division and seeds, the latter in the 

 open ground in spring. 



G. fastigiata (Peaked G.) — This species grows from ly^to 2 

 feet high, the stems upright and leafy, the leaves being linear 

 and somewhat angular. Flowers in loose terminal corymbs 

 small and white, appearing in June, July, and August. Native 

 of many parts of central Europe. 



G. prostrata (Trailmg G.) — This is a pretty species for rock- 

 work or the front lines of the mixed border. It grows in 

 spreading masses of glaucous leaves, which are linear-lanceolate 

 in form. The flowers, white or pink and small, are borne on 

 very slender stems in loose graceful panicles, and continue to 

 appear from midsummer till September. Native of the Alps 

 generally and Siberia. 



G. Steveni {Steven^ s G.) grows about 18 inches to 2 feet 

 high in diffuse habit, with glaucous grass-like leaves. The 

 flowers are gracefully panicled and white, appearing in July 

 and lasting a few weeks. Native of Iberia. 



Lychnis. — This group, though not numerous, comprises some 

 very beautiful plants for the mixed border and rockwork. In 

 cultivation they are best suited with moist, rich, but light loam ; 

 some of the species, in fact, delight in moist boggy pastures in 

 nature. Like the varieties of Pink and Carnation, the species 

 and varieties of this family are most beautiful as border plants 

 when two or three years old, either from cuttings or division, 

 and they are all easily managed by division in early autumn 

 or spring. Cuttings are not so easily managed, but if they 

 should be resorted to, the best plan is to cut down the flower- 

 ing-stems before they have become too hard and lost their 

 leaves; then cut them into lengths of two joints, taking care to 

 cut up to the solid of the lower joint, and treat them after- 

 wards as Pink cuttings. They are often slow to strike, but 

 must be waited for. 



