DIANTHUS 87 



DIANTHUS continued. 



or dianthes, meaning double-flowering). Nat. Ord. 

 Caryophyllacece. 



The species of this large family are mostly 

 perennial, but the following are annual or biennial, 

 or like the well-known Sweet William, a member of 

 this genus, are usually grown from seed and treated 

 as biennial. 



D. armefria or Deptford Pink. A true annual and 

 a native of England, though rare. The flowers 

 are small and clustered, speckled pink and 

 white, about 12 ins. high. A pretty plant for 

 the rockery in July and August. 



D. barba'tus, The Bunch Pink, Sweet William, 

 Sweet Johns, Tolmeyners, London-tufts, or 

 Cotgrave. 



With so many names it is easily inferred 

 this plant has long been popular. It is indeed 

 perennial, but is usually propagated by seed 

 and treated as a biennial, blooming the year 

 after sowing. It is absolutely hardy and vigor- 

 ous, bearing clustered flowers of varied zonal 

 colouring, usually a pink or crimson shade and 

 white, but often of one hue, spotted, streaked, 

 eyed and margined, smooth-edged or indented. 

 A new variety with brilliant colouring is called 

 Pink Beauty. It is a salmon-pink shade and a 

 plant of striking colour when grown in large 

 masses, the foliage being almost hidden by the 

 broad flower clusters in the month of June. 



