DIANTHUS 



G4BN4TI0N OBDEB 



DiiYPis 247 



a natural crossing between -D. Caryo- 

 phyllus and D. chinensis. They are very 

 ejegant in habit and flower profusely, the 

 colours ranging from pure white to deep 

 rose and carmine, the petals of some 

 varieties being prettily striped and 

 marked. The plants are branching in 

 habit, and about 12-18 in. high, the 

 stems being clothed with long lance- 

 shaped leaves. The flowers are slightly 

 fragrant and continue to appear until 

 cut down by severe frosts. In a cut state 

 they last a long time in water. 



Culture and Propagation. — This race 

 grows well in ordinary good garden soil, 

 and the plants may be readily increased 

 by dividing the roots in early autumn or 

 spring. They may also be increased by 

 means of cuttings in the same way as 

 Carnations (see above, p. 241) at almost 

 any season, but preferably about May and 

 .Tune. 



D. squarrosus. — ;A species 6 in. high, 

 native of S. Russia, with stiff, short, 

 recurved, awl-shaped leaves, furrowed 

 above. Flowers in summer, white, finely 

 jagged at the edges. 



Culture dc. as above for -D. deltoides. 



D. suavis (Sweet Pink). — -The native 

 country of this species is iinknown. It 

 grows about 6 in. high, and has linear, 

 glaucous leaves. Flowers in summer, 

 sweet-scented, pink, with bearded and 

 deeply serrated petals. 



Culture dc. as above for D. deltoides. 



D. superbus (Fringed Pink). — A native 

 of Eiu:ope and Asia, 9-18 in. high. 

 Leaves bright green, linear lance-shaped, 

 acute. Flowers in summer, rosy or 

 reddish ; petals divided beyond the middle, 

 feathery, bearded at the base. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 charming and distinct species is not only 

 remarkable for its beautifully fringed 

 petals, but also for the sweet fragrance of 

 its blossoms. Grown in masses in the 

 rockery or flower border it makes a fine 

 display during the summer months. It 

 flourishes in ordinary good and well- 

 drained garden soil, but prefers that of a 

 rather light rich sandy and calcareous 

 nature. It may be raised from seeds 

 every year exactly in the same way as 

 recommended for D. chinensis above. 



D. yirgineus. — A plant 6-12 in. high, 

 native of 8.W. Europe, with tufted, linear, 



serrulate, stiffish leaves. Flowers in 

 summer, red, with crenated petals. 



Culture (tc. as above for D. deltoides. 



TUNICA. — A genus containing about 

 10 species of graceful slender and some- 

 what rigid or wiry stemmed herbs, 

 smaller than Diamthus, and having 

 narrow leaves. Flowers Uke those of 

 Dianthus but smaller, cymose-paniculate, 

 collected into a close or rounded head. 

 Calyx top-shaped, or elongate-tubular^ 

 bluntly 5-toothed, 5-15-nerved, usually 

 with a pair of imbricating 'bracts at the 

 base. Petals 5, long-clawed ; blade retuse 

 or emarginately bifid, without scales. 

 Stamens 10. Torus small, or rarely pro- 

 duced on a short stalk. Ovary 1-celled ; 

 styles 2. Capsule ovoid or oblong, open- 

 ing at the apex by 4 teeth or valves. 



T. Saxifraga. — A smaU perennial 2-3 

 in. high, found wild in dry stony parts of 

 the Alps and Pyrenees. Leaves narrow, 

 linear, acute, roughish. Flowers in July, 

 rose, freely produeed in loose forked 

 panicles. Seedling forms often exhibit 

 a good deal of variation in colour, and the 

 flowers also come double or semi-double. 

 Culture and Propagation. — This is 

 the species generally met with in gardens. 

 It wiU grow in poor soil almost any- 

 where, and is useful for the chinks and 

 holes in old walls, ruins &o., or for the 

 rock garden. It may be increased by 

 carefully dividing the numerous wiry 

 branches with their roots in spring. 

 Indeed, this is the only sure way to retain 

 the characteristics of any particularly fine 

 seminal variation. Seeds, however, are 

 freely produced, and may be sown out of 

 doors in warm sheltered and well-drained 

 places or in cold frames, as soon as ripe, 

 if extra strong plants are desired for early 

 summer flowering. Seeds may also be 

 sown in gentle' heat about March, after- 

 wards pricking the seedlings out and 

 growing on until the end of May, when 

 they may be put out of doors. Or seeds 

 may be sown in patches where the plants 

 are to bloom, in April and May, afterwards 

 thinning the plants out 6-9 in. apart. By 

 sowing seeds at intervals in this way 

 blooming is considerably extended. 



DRYPIS. — ThiB genus contains only 

 the following species, a native of the 

 Mediterranean region : — 



D. spinosa. — ^A pretty little herbaceous 

 perennial about 6 in. high, with very 

 rigid 4-sided stems, and stiff awl-shaped 



