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CASSELL'S POPULAH GAEDENING. 



of evergreen foliage, covered in early spring with 

 bright, lively-oeloijred blossoms, varying in the 

 variety from white to deep rose, and all perfectly 

 hardy. This group of hardy Phloxes is earnestly 

 commended to the attention of our readers. 



Fhlox (Annual), P. Brmnmondii. — This very inte- 

 resting species was sent over from Texas by Mr. 

 Drummond in 1835, and in the original form the 

 blossoms were of a rosy-red colour. Since the 

 species was received, half a century ago, many 

 varieties have been produced, and they have also 

 become considerably improved in point of size and 

 colour. The German florists have obtained a section 

 known as grandiflora, or large-flowered ; and one of 

 the varieties, named Splendens grandiflora, is among 

 the most beautiful half-hardy annuals in cultivation. 

 The varieties come true from seed, and if a little 

 seed be sown in a gentle heat in early spring, they 

 wiU soon germinate ; and when the plants are large 

 enough they should be pricked off into pots or boxes, 

 or into a prepared bed in a cold frame, there to 

 remain until they are wanted for planting out in the 

 open ground. 



There is a section of annual Phloxes selected from 

 P. Drummondii, perhaps fertilised with the poUen of 

 some other form, known as F. Seynholdi ; they axe 

 of dwarfer and more compact growth, but not nearly 

 so handsome or so effective in the flower garden. 

 We csumot recommend them. 



The Pink — This is the Dianthua plimarms of 

 botanists, and the common name Pink is derived 

 from a supposed Dutch word, pink, meaning an eye. 

 The Pink, according to LinuiEus, is a native of the 

 colder parts of Europe, and it is also found in the 

 North of England, and is known in some districts as 

 the Pheasant-eyed Pink. It is said the Pink was 

 first cultivated about the year 1629 ; and since then, 

 by means of cultivation, it has sported into many 

 new and beautiful varieties. It is during the present 

 century that such' a marked improvement has been 

 made in this flower. We may venture to assert that 

 a Pink called Major's Lady Stoverdale, raised from 

 seed in the southern parts of England by the person 

 whose name it bears, was the first variety that de- 

 served to be classed among such as are now held in 

 esteem by florists; this was produced about 1770, 

 and was the first Pink possessed of that singular and 

 beautiful ornament called a "lacing," which is a 

 continuation of the colour of the eye round the 

 white or broad part of the petal. The original Pinks 

 had toothed or serrated edges to the petals, and the 

 first objects of the florists who attempted their im- 

 provement were to extend and intensify the lacing, 

 and to secure rounded instead of serrated edges to 

 the petals. After many years of patient labour 



these objects have been accomplished, as can be seen 

 in the fine round varieties of the present day. 



This has long been a favourite flower with many, 

 because so hardy, so free of bloom, and so exquisitely 

 fragrant ; but of late years it has unfortunately ceased 

 to be grown so much as it deserves to be, especially as 

 a subject for exhibition. There are, however, indi- 

 cations that a new interest is being taken in it ; and 

 a revival of the Pink may take place at no distant 

 date. 



The fine laced fiorists' Pinks are not cultivated in 

 pots, but in the open air. The usual practice is to 

 cultivate them in beds carefully prepared and raised 

 above the level of the ground. In preparing the bed, a 

 good quantity of well-decomposed manure should be 

 dug into it ; for a stimulus of this kind is necessary 

 in order to have the flowers well laced. The bed 

 should be prepared some time before planting, and 

 the soil forked over occasionally to become sweetened 

 and mellowed by exposure. It is all the more neces- 

 sary that the bed be raised if the soil be wet and ' 

 retentive — even to a height of nine or twelve inches, 

 and rounding oS. the sides to throw off heavy rains 

 that fall in autumn and winter. . 



The work of planting the beds is generally done 

 from the middle of September until early in October, 

 so that the plants can establish themselves before 

 winter sets in. The usual practice is to plant in 

 lines, having the plants eighteen inches to two feet 

 apart. During the winter the beds should be kept 

 free from weeds, and the surface soil stirred in dry 

 weather. If frost happens, and the soil about the 

 plants becomes loosened, it should be pressed firmly 

 about the roots so soon as it can be conveniently 

 done. In March a top-dressing wiU be found of 

 great service. This should be in the form of 

 partially decomposed manure, or half-rotten cow- 

 dung if the soU be light ; and it is a good plan to 

 place boards round the sides of the beds, or turves 

 can be used for the same purpose, thus bringing the 

 surface to a level, or nearly so, that the plants may 

 receive copious waterings as required without danger 

 of the water running off at the sides. During April 

 and May the surface of the bed should be kept 

 stirred, and at the end of the latter month fresh top- 

 dressing may be added with advantage, and water 

 given copiously twice a week if at all dry ; and in 

 June and July a good head of bloom shoiUd reward 

 the cultivator. As a matter of course, those who 

 grow Pinks for exhibition disbud their plants so as 

 to throw all their strength into the production of a 

 few finely-marked flowers, and superfluous side 

 growths are removed for the same object. 



If any grower is unable, from causes over which 

 he may have no control, to plant his bed so early in 

 the season as he would like, it will be better to pot up 



