84 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



ful for covering dry, sunny banks. It can be raised 

 from seed, sown either when ripe or in spring, with 

 the greatest ease, and will usually seed itself pro- 

 fusely. For this reason, and because of its rapid 

 growth, it is not a plant for the small rockery, but it 

 can be grown just as easily in the border as the ordi- 

 nary garden pinks. 



Dianthus caesius (the Cheddar pink) is also variable 

 and hybridizes very readily with D. plumarius and 

 other pinks. The tj^e is very tufted and low grow- 

 ing. The leaves are glaucous green, the flowers of a 

 bright pink, and irregularly indented. It is a lime- 

 stone plant and thrives best among rocks in a rubbly 

 soil or in a wall. It is apt to die in the winter on the 

 level, but lives long and often grows to a considerable 

 size in chinks of a rough stone wall. It is an excellent 

 rock garden plant, as it does not spread too quickly. 

 All it needs is a high and dry place in full sun. It 

 can be raised very easily from seed; but seedlings 

 usually vary a good deal, and, if the seed is bought, 

 they often bear little resemblance to the type. In- 

 deed, the species hybridizes so readily that it is not 

 likely to come true from seed unless the seed is saved 

 from plants isolated from other pinks. Some of the 

 hybrids, however, are very beautiful, having the 

 close tufted habit of the species and larger and even 

 brighter flowers. With this plant, too, it should be 

 easy to get some fine varieties by saving seed year 

 after year from the best specimens. 



Dianthus deltoides, the Maiden Pink, is a pretty 



