DIANTHUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DIANTHUS. 



547 



of French seed, are very satisfactory 

 plants, and useful for cutting. Their 

 drawback is the habit of flowering in 

 winter, but this can be obviated by sow- 

 ing early, so as to get them to a good 

 size by autumn, when they will flower in 

 the spring and continue to bloom all the 

 summer. Pipings struck in the spring 

 and planted out in the autumn will behave 

 in the same way. Old plants are difficult 

 to manage in the open air, but survive 

 the winter if well thinned out ; the only 



good mellow loam, or, if it be stiff, add 

 the same quantity of sand. Then, when- 

 ever time can be spared, fork in the dress- 

 ing well and dig it over. Then put the 

 plants in firmly, putting all of the same 

 sort in a row with a good legible label at 

 the end. Being perfectly hardy, they will 

 need no attention till next spring. At the 

 same time take up and put in in the same 

 way any seedlings sown in the spring, 

 which will now be fine strong plants. The 

 next spring, when the severe cold has 



Redbraes Picotee. 



danger is damp cold, which rots them at 

 the surface of the ground. They grow 

 very well in light rich soil on chalk. 

 Their free-rooting habit makes them un- 

 suitable for pots. Many of my plants 

 filled almost 3 ft. of soil with their roots ; 

 it is manifest waste to cram such free- 

 growing plants in pots. J. D. 



GARDEN CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION. 

 About the end of July cover the bed 

 intended to be devoted to Carnations, &c., 

 about 2 in. with good rotten manure, and 

 if the soil be sandy add to this 2 in. of 



ceased (about March or April), hoe the 

 beds over carefully between the rows, and 

 in fine weather water them if they are 

 dry. When the flower-stems begin to rise, 

 place a stick about 30 in. long to each 

 plant. These sticks should be painted a 

 light whitish green. The flower-stems 

 must be kept well tied up as they grow, 

 but they must be tied quite loosely, for if 

 they are tied tightly they will knee and 

 bend, and finally break. About 2oth June 

 (or later), when the buds appear, take off 

 all but three on each shoot ; so as to leave 

 N N 2 



