PREFACE 



THIS little volume is a companion to "Sweet 

 Violets and Pansies," which formed the first 

 of the smaller gardening books in the " Country 

 Life" Library. It has been written at the request of 

 many readers of Country Life and The Garden, and 

 it is to be hoped that the ripe experience of the con- 

 tributors to its pages, and the simple directions for 

 the growing of the Carnation, Picotee, and the beauti- 

 ful wild Pinks, will have their value. 



The brave masses of old Clove Carnations in the 

 gardens of our forbears, the sweet drifts of white 

 Pinks, and the warm fragrance scenting the summer 

 air, are pleasant reminiscences. With a greater 

 choice of varieties, the Carnation has developed in 

 interest and popularity, and a garden is not a garden 

 that is without the silvery tufts of growth which have 

 a quiet beauty even in winter days, when we are wise 

 enough to group them with grey-leaved shrubs, such 

 as Rosemary and Lavender. 



Although Pinks and Carnations are welcome in so 

 many ways of gardening, perhaps their greatest use, 

 other than in wall and rockwork, is as edgings and 

 underplantings to Roses, or something of taller 

 stature than their own. By " edgings " is not meant 



