CHAPTER XIV 



GARDEN PINKS 



WE have trespassed so much on the subject of Garden Pinks in 

 our treatment of Allwoodii that there remains but little to be said. 

 That little we hope to say. It is a flower long endeared to us by 

 age-long associations, for it has come down to us through many 

 centuries, and is seen in the same form as when in Tudor and still 

 earlier times it brightened the monastic gardens. We have it, too, 

 in better and improved forms, most of which have been acquired 

 within comparatively recent times important improvements in 

 size and in rich colouring. Allwoodii being a hybrid, we are 

 perhaps not entitled to look upon that as an improvement in pinks, 

 seeing that the carnation claims its share in its production, so we 

 will leave that in a category by itself, as it can afford no real indication 

 as to the probable development of the true pink. We, who had 

 already a considerable experience with the pink before the first 

 great improvement came in, Mrs. Sinkins, can compare its severe 

 limitations of that time with what it has since become, and though 

 its improvements have not been so rapid or so marked as that of 

 carnations, we may not be found too optimistic in pointing out that 

 these, important as they are, are but an augury of what may yet 

 be done. 



It is unthinkable that the old form be improved out of existence, 

 that the delicately fimbriated flowers should give place to those of 

 rounded and regular outline, that its greatest asset, one of the most 

 agreeable of perfumes, should be changed into something different. 

 The newer varieties have perpetuated these and, so far, have 

 preserved to the pink its distinctive features. 



The one great fault hitherto of the pink is the briefness of its 

 flowering season. We doubt if even the " ever-advancing per- 

 petualists " can remedy this without spoiling the habit of the 

 plant. But we look in rather a different direction, and while we 

 see the introduction of larger and more variously coloured forms 

 we are hoping to see some more tardy in blooming to lengthen the 

 season to an appreciable extent. The very fact that some plants 



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