CHAPTER XVI 



ROCK-GARDEN PINKS 

 BY JAMES DOUGLAS, V.M.H. 



IT is well known to botanists and to many cultivators of 

 hardy flowers that there are other species of Dianthus 

 besides D. barbatus, the Sweet William, D. plumarius, the 

 Garden Pink, and D. Caryophyllus, the Clove Pink, or Carna- 

 tion. Indeed, the number exceeds two hundred, but not 

 many of the species are found in gardens. Some do not 

 possess any merit as garden flowers, although they are in- 

 teresting to botanists ; others, on the contrary, are very 

 beautiful, and form most interesting objects in the rock 

 garden. 



My own garden consists of a medium loam, 18 inches 

 to 30 inches over chalk, and the species of Dianthus revel 

 in this soil, which has been improved by the applica- 

 tion of a good dressing of decayed manure. Most of 

 the species produce seed, and, if the seed is sown in 

 spring, the seedlings pricked out and cultivated carefully, 

 they form large plants that flower freely in the second 

 year. Although Dianthuses are well adapted for the rock 

 garden, they may be planted in any hardy-flower border, in 

 a position exposed to the light, and where the Pinks will 

 not be overborne by herbaceous plants. Some of them are 

 of low growth, producing small leaves, which form very 

 pretty tufts even when the plants are not in flower. 



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