DIANTHUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DIANTHUS. 



543 



D. Lemoinei Roseball. — A counterpart 

 of the last, save in the flowers, which, 

 opening towards the end of May, are of a 

 bluish-pink with yellow stamens, the red 

 flush deepening at the edges and on the 

 outside of the petals. 



D. myriantha. — The massive flower 

 clusters of this open early in June, the 

 blooms each three-quarters of an inch wide 

 and of snowy whiteness, save for the pale 

 yellow stamens. From the period at which 

 it flovyfers this forms a valuable succession 

 to those just named, while, in addition, it 

 is perfectly hardy. 



D. parviflora.— This species, which has 

 played a part in the production of some 

 of the varieties above named, is in itself 

 a handsome shrub of 4 feet to 5 feet, its 

 erect stems being crowned in spring by 

 flattened clusters of flowers, suggestive of 

 those of the Hawthorn. The manner in 

 which the bark peels away in bands from 

 the older stems is characteristic of this 

 kind. It flowers in April and May, and 

 it is by no means proof against spring 

 frosts. 



D. scabra. — To M. Lemoine we owe 

 the reintroduction of this scarce shrub, 

 the true /A scabra, a name often errone- 

 ously applied in gardens to D. crenata. 

 The true D. scabra, which is from Japan, 

 flowers about the middle of May, and is 

 sometimes injured by late frosts. The shrub 

 itself is a rather loose grower, while the 

 flowers borne in spike-like clusters are 

 each about half-an-inch across and of 

 snowy whiteness with yellow stamens. 



D. staminea. — A tender shrub from the 

 moist mountain valleys of India, which ex- 

 cept in particularly favoured parts of this 

 country can only be regarded as suitable 

 for the greenhouse. The flowers, at their 

 best about midsummer, are white, and 

 borne in compact terminal heads. 



D. Vilmorinse.— A new kind of con- 

 siderable promise, native of China. It bids 

 fair to attain a height of 5 feet to 6 feet, 

 while the flowers, at their best in the early 

 part of June, are disposed 20 to 35 to- 

 gether in large clusters, which, at first 

 erect, become afterwards from their weight 

 partially drooping. This though charm- 

 ing from the graceful habit of the plant 

 and its bloom, has yet to be tested as to 

 its value in the open air in this country. 



DIANTHUS {Pink). — Plants of the 

 highest garden value, containing several of 

 ■our finest families of hardy flowers — the 

 Carnation, Pink, and Sweet William — be- 

 sides numerous alpine and rock plants that 

 are among the most charming of mountain 

 plants. Many of the species are plants 

 ■of the heath, dry meadow, or maritime 



Alps ; or shore plants, such as the Fringed 

 Pink (D. superbus) ; and, so far as our 

 climate is concerned, they are almost at 

 home in lowland gardens. On the other 

 hand, some are among the very highest 

 alpine plants, like the Glacier Pink and 

 the Alpine Pink. 



The following is a selection of the best 

 species for gardens. 



D. alpinus {Alpine Pink). — A beautiful 

 and distinct plant, distinguished at a 

 glance from any other cultivated Pink by 

 blunt-pointed shining green leaves. The 

 stems bear in summer solitary circular 

 flowers, of deep rose spotted with crimson, 

 and when the plant is in good health they 

 are so numerous as to hide the leaves. In 



Dianthus alpinus (Alpine Pink). 



poor, moist, and very sandy loam this 

 Pink thrives and forms a dwarf carpet, 

 though the flower-stems are little more 

 than I in. in height ; but both leaves and 

 stems are much more vigorous and tall in 

 deep, moist peaty soil. Wire-worms cause 

 its death more frequently than unsuitable 

 soil. It should be placed in a fully ex- 

 posed spot, and carefully guarded against 

 drought, especially when recently planted. 

 It is not difficult to increase from seed, 

 and it comes true ; and it may be also 

 increased by division. Alps of Austria. 



D. barbatus {Sweet William). — One of 

 the most admired of garden flowers, hardy 

 and vigorous ; bearing a profusion of 

 bright flowers which form sheets of 

 bloom, the colours being vivid and pretty, 

 and the flowers often finely and distinctly 

 marked. What makes the Sweet William 

 of such high value for small gardens is that 



