PINKS 89 



brilliant race of pinks should not be obtained by 

 crossing it with other and stronger species. 



Dianthus alpinus is a very distinct pink, perfectly 

 prostrate, with green leaves rather broad for their 

 size and more like those of D. deltoides than of any 

 other pink. The flowers, which rise only about 2 in. 

 above the ground, are bright pink, spotted in the 

 centre, and very large for the plant. D. alpinus 

 is more difficult to grow than D. neglectus, as it is 

 impatient of drought in summer and also of damp in 

 winter. It cannot be grown in a very narrow chink 

 of the rocks, as it throws out runners and requires 

 room to increase in. This makes it the more difficult 

 to protect from drought. It should be planted on flat 

 pockets rather low down in the rockery, with a south- 

 west or south-east aspect and surrounded with small 

 rocks half sunk in the soil, with a larger rock on the 

 north side of it for its roots to run under. The smaller 

 rocks around it will give it a certain amount of shade. 

 The soil should be deep and should consist of one- 

 third mortar rubble, one-third leaf mould, and one- 

 third fibrous loam, all well mixed up together. It 

 must be watered in hot weather, and top-dressed with 

 leaf mould when first starting into growth in the 

 spring. With these conditions it is not difficult to 

 grow, though it is not a very long-lived plant. It can, 

 however, be very easily raised from seed, which usually 

 ripens in England, and should be sown as soon as 

 ripe or in early spring. It can also be increased by 

 cuttings. When plants appear to be failing they 



