128 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



early growth. A few of the rarer species, the Alpine 

 and Glacier Pinks as examples, are more difficult to 

 manage, and must have more than ordinary atten- 

 tion if they are to grow into healthy tufts and flower 

 freely. Some of the smaller Pinks suffer from winter 

 damp, and it is not unusual for large plants which have 

 taken years to develop to die from this cause. Seed 

 is the easiest way to increase the plants, but un- 

 fortunately the seedlings cannot be depended upon to 

 come true to the right colouring unless the various 

 kinds are kept quite apart. The reason is that Pinks 

 hybridise with great freedom. Cuttings taken just 

 after the plants have finished flowering root readily in 

 small pots filled with a mixture of loam to which 

 plenty of sand has been added. The pots should be 

 plunged in a shady frame and kept close until the 

 cuttings are rooted, when they may be potted off 

 singly. 



The smaller tufted species may be divided in spring. 

 The larger species, such as D. Carthusianorum, D. 

 Caryophyllus, D. cruentus, D. giganteus, and D. liburnicus, 

 which may be regarded as border plants, are easily 

 raised from seed sown in gentle heat in spring. When 

 large enough to handle the seedlings should be 

 pricked out in boxes in a compost of half fibrous 

 loam, one part sand, and the same of leaf-mould. 

 When well rooted they may be planted out in their 

 permanent places ready for flowering the following 

 spring. This early treatment is also suitable for 

 D. plumarius, D. csesius, D. arenarius, and others of 

 similar growth, but lime rubbish may be added with 



