16 



TWIN-LARCHES NURSERY, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



Dianthus, continued 

 Plumarius. Spice or Grass Pink. No plant can 

 surpass the Pink as a filler or edging plant; their 

 thick, rounded mats of blue-green, grass-like foliage 

 give just the right effect of substantial finish, with 

 no hint of undue stiffness or formality. A continuous 

 border of white Pinks looks delightful against the 

 dull red-browns of an old brick walk. Pinks spread 

 with astonishing rapidity; a small plant set out in the 

 spring will soon cover many square inches of surface. 

 Unlike plants of similar habit, the stems send out no 

 roots, so that the whole mass may easily be lifted 

 from the ground. Some mistaken notion often 

 impels plantsmen to state that Pinks are continuous 

 bloomers, but as a rule the blooms are few and lar 

 between after their big display in late May. The 

 foliage, however, is always attractive, both summer 

 and winter, and the plants will grow in any sort of 

 soil, even in chinks in old walls, provided they have 

 a good supply of sun. The mixed seedlings are as 

 satisfactory as any for general planting. They 

 range from white through all shades of cool pink to 

 crimson, both double and single. All are strongly 

 clove-scented. Mixed Pinks, 15 cts. each. 



Napoleon III. This is undoubtedly the finest of 

 named Pinks, and though by no means a difficult 

 plant to grow, is very seldom oll'ered for sale in this 

 country. It is a really continuous bloomer, with 

 several dowers to a stem. They are delicately per- 

 fumed, and of the richest deep crimson. The foliage 

 is very distinct, soft light green, drooping instead of 

 still' as in other Pinks. A very valuable flower. 

 6-in.; space the same. 50 cts. each. 



Countess Knuth. Robust grower, over a foot 

 tall, with large, fragrant flowers of a soft apricot- 

 yellow, a shade exactly like that of certain tea 

 roses. A distinct break in hardy Pinks, and a most, 

 unusual and beautiful plant. Excellent for cutting. 

 Blooms in June. 35 cts. each. 



Latifolius atrococcineus fl.-pl. A very cum- 

 bersome name for a most showy and striking plant, 

 which, though introduced some years ago, is com- 

 paratively little known. It is a hybrid between the 

 Sweet William and the true Pink, and resembles the 

 first in its individual flowers, and the latter in the 

 fact that they are borne in Hat branching clusters. 

 Though the plant is not fragrant, and is a trifle still 

 in habit, it has the advantage of blooming from June 

 till Irost if the old dowers arc kept cut; and its color 

 is as fine a pure, deep scarlet as can be found among 

 hardy plants. 



Barbatus. Sweet William. It is a mistake to 

 think of Sweet William as a common or inferior 

 plant. On the contrary', it measures up to the 

 highest standard of excellence among hardy plants. 

 In one particular point, namely, richness of texture, 

 there is probably no dower that can match it. Some 

 of the blossoms look as if cut out of finest velvet, 

 while others luive an indescribable frosted appear- 

 ance. And in certain shades of red—deep, blackish 

 scirkts, and glowing ruby tones — they :rc altogether 

 unrivaled, not to mention the excellent new salmon- 

 pink varieties. The richness of their color effect is 

 no doubt due in large part to their compact, upright 

 growth, and close heads of bloom. This type of 

 growth also gives them characteristic horizontal 

 lines that contrast well with the vertical ones of 

 digit ilis, delphiniums etc. Sweet Williams ;r- 

 never satisfactory for more than two years, and 

 perhaps are even best treated as biennials. Once 

 they h ave bloomed the stems become weak and 

 sprawling, the (lower-spikes sparse and the clump: 



often die out in the center. Any sort of soil will 

 suit them and they are perfectly hardy. Season of 

 bloom from May 15 to June 15. Height 18 in.; 

 space 10 in. 



Newport Pink. A fine new variety of a rich 

 salmon-pink, a lovely shade. 



Deep Maroon-Red. One of the darkest of 

 flowers; perhaps the most striking variety. 



Mixed. Sweet William in Mixture gives a rich 

 tapestry-like effect, and the colors seldom clash. 

 All shades of scarlet, crimson, pink, and white, 

 with many dowers with deeper centers and rings 

 of different colors. 



Dictamnus • Gas-Plant 



Fraxinella alba. Gas-Plant. 1 f one is looking for 

 a quick-growing, free-blooming, adaptable plant, one 

 that will stand dividing up and moving about, 

 then he had better avoid the Dictamnus. But if he 

 wishes something distinctive, something that will 

 give a note of stateliness and solid dignity to his 

 garden and that will live longer than the longest- 

 lived human being, then he will do well to invest in 

 a few Gas-Plants. Plant them in full sun, where they 

 can remain undisturbed, and when established they 

 will produce a fine symmetrical mass of glossy, 

 palmate foliage, clothing several stout stems 3 feet 

 tall, dressed with large, widely open white flowers, 

 ol a graceful winged shape with long, protruding 

 anthers. These are followed by huge, decorative 

 seed-pods, covered with a viscous reddish down. 

 The whole plant secretes a volatile oil, strongly 

 and agreeably lemon-scented, and on very hot, 

 sunny days this will tgnits with _i brief puff of 

 dame, if a lighted match is applied to the dowers. 

 Hence the name Gas Plant. There is a pink- 

 dowered form of Dictamnus, but it is by no means 

 so attractive as the white. 



Dicta m n us fraxinella 



Unless otherwise noted, all plants in this catalog, 15 cts. each, $1.50 per doz., $10 per 100 



