196 Remarks on the Pink Family. 



REMARKS ON THE PLVK FAMILY {Dlanlhus). 

 Part I. 



By Joseph Breck, Ex-President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



The Diani/ius, or Pink family, in many of its sections, has for ages been 

 the favorite of the garden ; highly esteemed for its perfection of beauty 

 and exquisite fragrance. 



Dianthus, the botanical name of tlie genus, is derived from a Greek 

 word, signifying, literally, ^ove^ s Flower, or xht Divine Flower. Whether 

 this name was bestowed upon it on account of its beauty or its fragrance, 

 has never been determined ; but it is worthy the name from either qualit}'. 

 The name bestowed upon the genus may be taken as a proof of the favor 

 in which it was held a long time ago. 



The Carnation. — The carnation is said to be a native of Middle Eu- 

 rope. " It is quite doubtful whether the ancients knew it at all, as there 

 is no allusion to it in any of the classics ; but it has been for a great 

 length of time a favorite with all Germany and the north of Europe." 

 Gerarde, who published a large folio volume in 1597 on botany, medicinal 

 herbs, flowers, and vegetables, first introduced the carnation into England 

 about that time. He quaintly tells us, that, in his time, it was in great es- 

 teem " to deck up the bosoms of the beautiful, and make garlands and 

 crowns for pleasure." Since Gerarde's da}', the Anglo-Saxons have by 

 no means neglected the carnation. 



Within the last seventy years, some of the leading English flower-fanciers 

 have enumerated three or four hundred sorts in their catalogues. The per- 

 fection to which their culture is carried quite astonishes one. Indeed, they 

 are most tenderly nursed. They are always kept in pots. They are closely 

 watched at all times, but especially when approaching the blooming season. 

 The buds are then thinned out as soon as they are well formed ; the flower- 

 stems are supported by neat and slender green stakes ; the opening blos- 

 soms are prevented from turning awry by pieces of card placed beneath 

 them ; and at length, when the expected time has arrived, the whole col- 

 lection is placed under a tasteful awning upon stages, the plants rising 

 one above another to show all of them to the best advantage. It is quite 



