HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS 185 



There are double-flowered forms. D. chinensis, the Chinese Pink, 

 is a biennial and should be treated as such, Autumn-raised plants 

 flowering the best. There are many desirable varieties in this 

 species. D. alpinus is one of the choicest of Alpine and rockwork 

 plants. D. glacialis is a pretty Alpine species difficult to establish. 

 D. deltoides (Maiden Pink) is one of the prettiest border Pinks, 

 making neat mats of foliage, bearing profusely of the little bright 

 red flowers. 



Dianthuses like a warm soil, and one that will not become too 

 wet at any time, especially the perennial kind, as they are killed 

 from too much ice around them. 



Propagation. All Dianthuses are readily propagated from 

 seeds sown in rich soil. The double kinds are best propagated from 

 cuttings alone to have them true. Another method is by layering, 

 and with the garden Pinks or forms of D. plumarius, it is the easiest 

 and surest. 



DICENTRA. D. spedabilis, Bleeding Heart, is one of the most 

 beautiful herbaceous plants in cultivation, flowering usually in May, 

 splendidly adapted for forcing. It is one of the first plants to push 

 its growths above the soil. In some localities it is apt to suffer from 

 late frosts. D. eximia is not so tall growing as the above-named; 

 the leaves are more finely divided and the flowering period is much 

 longer. 



Propagation. The time for propagating is just before the plant 

 starts into growth. Division of the crowns is the most reliable 

 method. Dig up the plants, saving every root; wash free of soil and 

 preserve every piece of the plant having a bud. Those pieces of 

 the roots which are not necessary to the buds should be cut into 

 lengths of about 3 inches and put in boxes, keeping them uniformly 

 moist. While they will not all grow, a certain proportion of them 

 will pay for the labor. The divided pieces may he potted or boxed, 

 according to fancy, using sandy soil to induce a good growth. Pieces 

 of the crown on which there is a number of buds, but not enough 

 roots to warrant further division, may be gently forced into growth, 

 and when the young shoots are of sufficient length, taken off and 

 rooted. 



DICTAMNUS (Gas Plant). D. albus (Fraxinella) is a good, 

 old-fashioned border plant, growing 2 feet in height, with spikes of 

 red or white flowers. The plants should be given a good permanent 

 position, as they dishke removal. An interesting fact connected 

 with the D. alhvs is that the seed-pods emit an oil when ripe. Hold- 



