CHAPTER XVI 
ROCK-GARDEN PINKS 
By JAMES DOUGLAS, V.M.H. 
IT is well known to botanists and to many cultivators of 
hardy flowers that there are other species of Dianthus 
besides D. barbatus, the Sweet William, D. plumarius, the 
Garden Pink, and D. Caryophyllus, the Clove Pink, or Carna- 
tion. Indeed, the number exceeds two hundred, but not 
many of the species are found in gardens. Some do not 
possess any merit as garden flowers, although they are in- 
teresting to botanists; others, on the contrary, are very 
beautiful, and form most interesting objects in the rock 
garden. 
My own garden consists of a medium loam, 18 inches 
to 30 inches over chalk, and the species of Dianthus revel 
in this soil, which has been improved by the applica- 
tion of a good dressing of decayed manure. Most of 
the species produce seed, and, if the seed is sown in 
spring, the seedlings pricked out and cultivated carefully, 
they form large plants that flower freely in the second 
year. Although Dianthuses are well adapted for the rock 
garden, they may be planted in any hardy-flower border, in 
a position exposed to the light, and where the Pinks will 
not be overborne by herbaceous plants. Some of them are 
of low growth, producing small leaves, which form very 
pretty tufts even when the plants are not in flower. 
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