OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 81 



Dentaria Digitata. 



TOOTHWORT; Nat. Ord. C RTJCIFER^. 

 A HARDY, tuberous perennial, native of Switzerland, but long 

 cultivated in British gardens, and decidedly " old-fashioned." 



Imagine a spray of pale purple wallflower, and that will give 

 some idea of the form and colour of its flowers, which are 

 produced on round wiry stems, nearly a foot high, in terminal 

 racemes. The leaves, which are produced mostly in threes on a 

 stem, have a channelled petiole, and, as the specific name denotes, 

 are spread out like fingers, mostly of five parts ; a five-cut leaf 

 of a Christmas rose will give a fair notion of the form, but the 

 Toothwort leaves are less, not so thick, and more herb-like than 

 the hellebore; they are also finely, deeply, but irregularly 

 toothed. The roots are of singular form, almost like human 

 teeth, arranged as scales, whence the name Toothwort. Its first 

 appearance above ground is in February, when the young 

 growths are bent or folded like those of the anemone, and in 

 genial seasons it will flower early in March. 



It loves both a little shade and moisture. I grow it at the 

 base of a bit of rockwork, in black or leaf mould ; the aspect is 

 south-east, but an old sun-dial screens it from the midday sun. 

 The whole plant has a somewhat quaint appearance, but it has 

 proved a great favourite. When the tops have died down the 

 roots can safely be lifted, cut in lengths of one or two inches, 

 and then replanted. It also produces seed freely, but from the 

 easy method of increase by root division, I have not had occasion 

 to experiment with seed. 



Flowering period, March to May. 



Dianthus Deltoides. 



MAIDEN PINK ; Old Names, " WILD GILLOFLOWER," " YIRGIN- 

 LIKE PINKE," "MAIDENLY PINKE "; Nat. Ord. CARYO- 



PHYLLACE.E SlLENACE^. 



A BRITISH species of perennial character, never failing to bloom 

 for a long period when it meets with a suitable home in our gar- 

 dens as in positions similar to those described for Erysimum 

 -pumilum. Seen either wild or in gardens it is much admired; 

 it bears but simple flowers, but therein consists its beauty. 



As Gerarde says, " Yirgin-like Pinke is like unto the rest of 

 the garden pinkes in stalkes, leaves, and rootes. The flowers are 

 of a blush colour, whereof it tooke his name, which sheweth the 

 difference from the other." It is about the most simple form of 

 the Pink tribe. The flowers are a little over -lin. across, of a rose 

 colour or pleasing blush. It grows nearly a foot high in some 

 soils, but in a poor compost it is more dwarf and floriferous. 

 The flower stems are much divided near the tops, and capable of 

 producing a good effect from their numbers of bright flowers. 



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