DI AN THUS, Nat. Ord. Caryophyllacea:. 



Under this name we include three of the most magnificent members of the Floral family, the 

 rivals of the Rose for queenly honors, the Carnation, the Picotee and Fink. As long as we can 



remember, these have been the favorite flowers of the 

 florist, and proud and happy was the man who could 

 produce a perfect flower. The Carnation, Dianthus 

 caryophillus, is a grand flower, smooth edged, with 

 the stripes broad and running from the base to the 

 i outer edge of the petal, as shown in the engraving at 

 the left. The more clear arftl denned the stripe the 

 | better. The Picotee differs mainly in the coloring, 

 the stripes running around the edge of the petal, as 

 shown in the engraving, that is, when perfect, though 

 there are some very good flowers with narrow and 

 broken stripes running from the base to the outer 

 edge of the petals. The Pink, D. hortensis, is smaller, 

 more compact and 

 more mottled than 

 striped, with white 

 ground. Seeds of 

 all may be sown 

 under glass, or in i 

 the open ground 

 in the spring, and 

 the second season 

 will flower. Some 



will prove poor or single, and these can be pulled up as soon 

 as they show their character. Young plants are perfectly 

 hardy, and will endure our winters well, but old plants are 

 much injured generally. A succession of young plants should 



be procured 

 either from 

 seeds or lay- 

 ers every 

 year. Layer- 

 ing is simply 

 cutting a slit 

 in a young 

 shoot to ob- 

 struct the flow of sap, and thus aid in the forma- 

 tion of roots. First cut half way through the 

 shoot, then make a slit lengthwise about an 

 inch. . Remove the earth a few inches in depth, 

 and press down the branch so that this slit will 

 open, and then cover with the soil. Roots will 

 form where the cut was made, and thus a new 

 plant will be formed, which can be removed in 

 the autumn or spring. The layering should be 

 done in midsummer. The Pink is more hardy 

 than the others and will not become injured in 

 the winter, unless the plants are very much 

 weakened by old age. The engravings show 

 the Carnation and Picotee on the left of the page, 

 and the Pink on the right. The plant of the 

 Pink is smaller and more compact than the others, and the leaves narrower. 



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