44* 



D1ANTHUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DIANTHUS. 



as any weed, is hardy, easily grown, and 

 best increased from seed. Alps and 

 Pyrenees. Syn. D. glacialis. 



D. PETROUS (Rock Pink). A charming 

 Pink, forming hard tufts, i or 2 inches 

 high, from which spring numerous flower- 

 stems, each bearing a fine rose-coloured 

 flower. It seems to escape the attacks of 

 wire-worm. It flowers in summer, and 

 should be planted on the rock garden in 

 sandy and rather poor moist loam. Hun- 

 gary. Seed or division. 



D. PLUMARIUS (The Common Pink). 

 This is the parent of our numerous varie- 

 ties of Pinks, and has single purple flowers, 

 rather deeply cut at the margin, and is 

 naturalised on old walls in various parts 



surface of the beds should be stirred a 

 little and given a top-dressing of fine old 

 manure and a slight dusting of guano. 

 The culture of Pinks for the garden is 

 simple, and the outlay small. Get newly 

 struck pipings in August and September 

 the best months to plant them in a sunny 

 place. In a smoky town a cold frame will 

 be needed ; but if the air be clear, an open 

 bed will do. When the pipings are once 

 planted in the open garden, they require 

 little care till they begin to push up their 

 flower-stems. 



GARDEN OR BORDER PINKS. The 

 show Pinks may be left to the ex- 

 hibitor. There are certain kinds, both 



Dianthus neglectus (Glacier Pink) 



of England. The wild plant is rather 

 handsome when grown in healthy tufts, 

 but on the level ground it is apt to perish. 

 The many fragrant double varieties are 

 welcome everywhere, and should be culti- 

 vated as rock or bank plants, as they live 

 longer and thrive better when raised above 

 the general level of the ground, though 

 they grow well in ordinary soil. They 

 have for many years been amongst the 

 favourite " florists' " flowers in European 

 countries, and are hardier and dwarfer 

 than the Carnation. In August, Pinks 

 should be planted 9 inches apart, the 

 ground being rich and well prepared. If 

 the winter be very severe, a little litter 

 should be put over them, and in spring the 



old and new, which must be taken care 

 of by the " general lover" of flowers, 

 These are the hardier border kinds, 

 grown for their beauty and fragrance. 

 As in the case of the hardier Carnations, 

 we must encourage these. Some of 

 the best of the hardier kinds are : 

 Alice, Brightness, Coronation, Elsie, 

 Joyce, Market Favourite, Salmon Rose, 

 Anne Boleyn, Ascot (soft pink), Fim- 

 briatus major, Fragrans, Hercules, 

 Lady Blanche, Mrs Moore, Mrs Sinkins, 

 Marie Pare (Mule Pink), Napoleon III., 

 Multiflorus, Newmarket, Pluto, Purity. 

 Robustus, Rubens, High Clere, Multi- 

 florus flore-pleno, Multiflorus roseus, 



