62 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Two classes of Pinks are recognised. The Laced or florists' 

 type, which has been in cultivation for many years, are grown 

 exclusively in the border. The forcing Pinks are self-coloured, 

 or purple and reddish-purple combined. The old-gardeners did 

 not hold this flower in so much esteem as the Carnation. Rea, 

 who published a "Complete Florilege," in 1676, says: "Pinks 

 are of many sorts, and little esteem ; they flower with Roses 

 in June, and every ordinary gardener knows how to dispose of 

 them, as also that vulgar plant called Thrift." 



The forcing Pinks are really very charming, and a succession 

 of blossom can be kept up from March until June. The pipings 

 must be put in as early as March, and the plants can be grown 

 on in boxes until they are ready to plant out in the open garden 

 in May. If provided with good, rich soil, they form large clumps 

 by the end of the season. In September they should be lifted 

 and planted in 6in. pots, larger or smaller ones being used 

 according to the size of the plants. They should be potted 

 firmly, and placed in frames until the plants are removed 

 into warmer quarters, when successive batches of them may be 

 stood in the forcing-houses. 



Varieties. — The following Laced Pinks are now in cultivation. 

 It must, however, be observed that they vary very little in colour, 

 and one may fairly describe them as deep red, rosy-red, and 

 reddish-maroon The colour is in the centre of the flowers, the 

 remainder of the petals being white, with a band of colour near 

 the margin : Bertha, Bertram, Boiard, Clara, Device, Emerald, 

 Empress of India, George Brown, George White, Harry Hooper, 

 Lady Craven, Minerva, Miss Pomeroy, Mrs. Darke, Mrs. Waite, 

 Reliance, Sarah, and The Rector. 



The best of the forcing Pinks, Selfs and Fancies, are as follow : 

 Alice Lee, white mule Pink ; Anne Boleyn, rosy-purple, darker 

 centre ; Ascot, pink, deep red centre ; Clove Pink, rose ; Ernest 

 Ladhams, large blush, claret centre ; Her Majesty, large white ; 

 Homer, rose, darker centre ; Mrs. Lakin, white, pale rose centre ; 

 Mrs. Sinkins, large white ; Paddington, pink, dark centre ; Snow- 

 flake, pure white ; Albino, a new white variety, with large, well- 

 formed white flowers. 



The Dahlia {Dah/ia variabilis). 



For the decoration of the flower-garden in autumn this is 

 certainly the showiest of flowering plants grown; it is also the 

 mainstay of the autumn flower shows. There has been a great 



