Remarks on the Pink Family. 273 



Japan varieties require a generous, rich soil, neither very heavy nor too 

 light. They are all worthy of a place in every garden, however small. 



Sweet William {Dianihus barbatus). — This is an old inhabitant of the 

 flower-garden, having been known from the time of Gerarde. The varieties 

 are numerous, but have never been treated by florists as a leading flower. 

 It is, however, in its almost endless sports, a very desirable class of flowers 

 for the garden. It is an imperfect perennial, and soon dies out unless it is 

 often divided j but, with a little care in this respect, the choice varieties may 

 be perpetuated. The proper time for dividing the roots is when the flow- 

 ers begin to fade in July. They should be planted out in beds of rich soil, 

 which will make strong plants for flowering the next year, especially if a 

 few leaves or evergreen-boughs are thrown over them before winter sets in. 

 The seed should be saved from improved varieties, and sowed the last of 

 May, and, when of suitable size, should be planted out in beds or in the 

 border where they are to remain. The flowers are of every tint of white, 

 rose, light and dark red and purple. ]\Iany of the varieties are exceed- 

 ingly beautiful, such as Auricula-eyed, Dunett's, Hunt's Perfection, and many 

 others. The flowers are produced in flat corymbs or heads, which some- 

 times contain various-colored flowers. There are also numerous varieties 

 with double flowers, which I do not think are any improvement. Others 

 think differently. 



SuPi^.RB PixK {Dianthus superbus). — This is a perennial species, with 

 deeply cut or serrated petals ; of exquisite fragrance, but not very conspicu- 

 ous for show\ 



Besides these various species and varieties of pinks I have described, 

 there are many others not so interesting, and not of much consequence, 

 except for rock-work ; mostly dwarfs from six to eight inches high : some 

 of them are, Dianthus alpinus, D. avenarins, D. pitimaris, D. aspera, D. 

 diminiutus, D. prolifcr, D. glaucus, D. collinus, D. ddtoides^ and many 

 others. 



