GROUPS OF GARDEN FLOWERS 27 



year. By carefully dividing the old plants with a fork, and selecting 

 small pieces of the outside growths for replanting,, we get several strong 

 basal growths that will give us flower trusses infinitely better not only 

 in size, but in colour and substance, than were old plants allowed to 

 remain and grow as they pleased. This division and replanting may be 

 carried out at almost any time during winter and spring, though February 

 is the best month, as new growth is then usually commencing and very 

 little check is experienced. Mulching between the plants during hot 

 weather with short manure, frequent soakings with water and weak 

 liquid manure throughout their growing season, and careful staking of 

 the shoots, with an early thinning out of the weakest growths, are the 

 main cultural details that need attention after planting has been well 

 done. 



Varieties are now so numerous that it is well-nigh impossible to com- 

 pile a list without leaving out many that are well worth growing. 



The following are good : Coquelicot, orange-scarlet ; Baron von 

 Didem, orange-scarlet ; Countess of Ilchester, salmon-pink ; Dr. Charcot, 

 parma violet colour ; Iris, crimson-purple ; La Madhi, dark violet ; 

 Mrs. E. H. Jenkins, white ; Sheriff Ivory, salmon ; Sylphide, white ; 

 Etna, crimson-scarlet. 



Pinks. The good gardener, amateur or otherwise, will make full 

 use of the pink, pure white fragrant flowers inseparable from the old 

 English garden. We confess a strong love for the common white Pink, 

 so indispensable in its pretty modest beauty and its incomparable sweet- 

 ness. Every year as its flowering time comes round one greets it as one 

 of the old treasures most to be loved and prized. Nothing makes a 

 prettier edging to a walk, for even when the bloom is over its neat tufts 

 of bluish foliage are charming ; and it should not be forgotten that in 

 winter the leafy tufts are at their best. This old favourite has been 

 overshadowed by the larger-flowered Mrs. Sinkins, Albino, Mrs. Lakin, 

 Her Majesty, and Snowflake. Mrs. Sinkins is the variety more largely 

 planted, we think, than any other ; its double white flowers are filled 

 with perfume. Albino and Mrs. Lakin we appreciate also, and their 

 flowers are less apt to split than those of the more bulky varieties. Every 

 full Carnation or Pink flower generally splits its calyx. Pinks must not 

 be planted in a soil likely to contain wire-worm, otherwise the tufts will 

 disappear wholesale ; but ordinary soil that is not wet or badly drained 

 will suffice. The mauve-tinted Souvenir de Sale is very pretty, but 

 splits rather badly ; and one named Ledham's Favourite is more lasting 

 than the others. Gloriosa is a large flowered, new variety with rose- 

 coloured and fragrant blossoms. Besides the true garden Pinks a charm- 

 ing group is known as the " laced " kind, an appropriate name indicating 

 that the colour is laced upon the pure white ground. When show Pinks 

 were more fashionable than they are at the present day their merits 

 depended in a large measure upon the purity and perfection of their 

 lacing. Pinks are so quickly and easily propagated by cuttings or pipings 

 that a few words will suffice to dismiss this subject. June is the month 

 for the work. Cut them just under a joint, remove the required number 



