D I A 



D I A 



The White Shock, which is thus denominated 

 from the whiteness of its flowers, and the borders 

 of the petals being much jagged and fringed : the 

 flower-stalks are eight or ten inches in height. 

 Its scent is not so agreeable as in some other 

 sorts. 



The Pheasant's Eye, of which there are dif- 

 ferent varieties, and frequently new ones intro- 

 duced, some of which have very large double 

 flowers ; those which burst their pods are the 

 least esteemed. They have firm flower-stems, 

 eight or ten inches high : the flowers large, 

 whitish, or blush-coloured, with dark purple 

 spots in the middle. That sort of Pheasant's 

 Eve called Bat's Pink often flowers again in 

 autumn. 



The Cob Pink, the stalks of which are much 

 taller than in those of the former sorts ; twelve or 

 fifteen inches high; the flowers very double, 

 and of a bright red colour ; it has the most 

 agreeable odour of all the sorts ; flowering from 

 the latter end of May to the middle of July. 



The Old Man's Plead Pink, and the Painted 

 Lad;/, flower in July, at the same time with the 

 Carnation, to which they are more nearly allied 

 than to the Pink. The first, when in its proper 

 colours, is purple and white striped and spotted, 

 but it is frequently of one plain colour, as purple: 

 it continues flowering till the frost in autumn 

 puts a stop to it, and the flower having an agree- 

 able scent renders it valuable. The latter is 

 chiefly admired for the liveliness of its colour; 

 as it is not so sweet, or of so long continuance, 

 as the other. 



The Clove Pink has a large deep red flower, 

 affording a strong scent of the Clove. 



Martyn thinks it probable that the Red Pinks 

 take their rise from the Carnation, whilst the 

 Pheasant's Eye Pinks seem to derive their origin 

 from the fourth. Some give them all as varia- 

 tions of the third; which is not, he conceives, 

 likely. 



There are single and double flowers of each 

 of these sorts. 



Culture. — Though the culture in these orna- 

 mental plants is effected without much difficulty, 

 considerable attention is necessary in the ma- 

 nagement of some of the sorts, to have them 

 flower in the utmost perfection and beauty. 



Culture in the Siveet-JVilliam Kind. — The 

 single sorts of these plants are readily increased 

 by sowing seed which has been carefully col- 

 lected in a bed of light earth, that has not been 

 much enriched by manure, in the latter end of 

 March or beginning of the following month, 

 either over the surface or in slight drills, cover- 

 ing it in well: when the plants have attained a 

 proper growth, as about the latter end of June, 

 they should be removed and set out on other 



small beds prepared for them, planting them out 

 six or eight inches distant each way, watering 

 them and keeping them perfectly free from 

 weeds till the following autumn or spring, when 

 they must be taken up with good balls of earth 

 about their roots, and set out where they are to 

 flower. It is by this method that new varieties 

 are produced. Although these plants are peren- 

 nial, they should be raised every year from seed, to 

 have them blow strong and in perfection. 



These and the double sorts may be continued 

 by slips or layers. In the former mode the slips 

 should be planted out either in the early autumn 

 or spring months where they are to remain, giv- 

 ing them a little water at the time, when the wea- 

 ther is dry. When the slips are taken from the 

 young plants, they should be made quite down to 

 the roots, so as to have fibres to them. In this 

 way the plants are often good and flower well. 

 Cuttings or pipings managed in the same way 

 also succeed well. 



In the latter method the more tender branches 

 should be laid down in the summer months, 

 water being frequently given when the weather 

 is hot and dry. After they have taken root per- 

 fectly they should be separated or taken off, and 

 planted out where they are to remain, or in beds 

 of light earth, to be afterwards removed, a little 

 water being given at the time. A few of the 

 best should be potted in the beginning of au- 

 tumn, in order to be more conveniently removed 

 under shelter during the severity of winter. 



These plants should neither be kept too moist 

 or dry, as in both situations they are liable to 

 sustain much injury by the canker. 



The seed for the culture of these plants should 

 be collected, when perfectly ripened, from the 

 best and most perfect flowers which have grown 

 at a distance from any bad or inferior plants, 

 and be kept in a dry situation. 



Culture in the Gillijlower or Carnation Kind. — 

 These plants may be raised with facility in the 

 beds or borders of pleasure-grounds or gardens 

 where the soil is moderately light and dry ; but 

 in order to have them in the greatest superiority 

 and perfection, it is the practice of florists to em- 

 ploy a compost prepared by mixing the surface 

 vegetable mould of old pastures with well rotted 

 stable-dung from old hot-beds, or neat's dung in 

 the same state and sea-sand, in the proportion of 

 a third of the former and a fourth of the latter. 

 These materials should be well blended, and lie 

 for a considerable length of time, being fre- 

 quently turned before they are made use of. 

 This mould may be employed both for filling 

 the pots with and for forming the beds ; and in 

 preparing it for these purposes it should not be 

 sifted fine, but merely well broken down and re- 

 duced by the spade. 



