SWEET WILLIAMS, ETC. 
73 
Besides tlie “ Sweet William ” there are a host of 
other species of Diantlms largely grown for the 
decoration of the rock garden. They are chiefly useful 
for this purpose because they make attractive carpets 
of glaucous green foliage at all seasons of the year, and 
when in blossom their beauty is enhanced to a marvel- 
lous degree. Most of the kinds are easily grown in rich 
sandy soil, and may be increased from seeds, division, 
or cuttings of the half-ripened shoots in a cold frame. 
Amongst the annual Pinks, the best is undoubtedly 
the Chinese or Indian Pink (D. cliinensis), and its 
numerous varieties. The type came from China about 
200 years ago. It grows about 12 to 18 inches high, 
and produces its sweet-scented reddish flowers in 
great profusion in summer. There are now single and 
double-flowered forms, and the colours vary from 
white to blush rose, pink, and deep crimson. One 
form called laciniatus has the petals deeply incised on 
the margins. The Amoor Pink ( D . dentosus) is said 
to be a form of D. cliinensis. It has violet-lilac 
blossoms about an inch across with purple streaks at 
the base of each petal. There are now double and 
semi-double forms of it, most of them being sterile 
have to be increased by division or cuttings. A very 
fine form of the Chinese Pink is the Japanese D. 
Heddeweggi, of which there are single and double- 
flowered variations. The blossoms are large, and the 
colours brilliant, varying from pure white through 
salmon and rose to the deepest crimson. All forms 
of the Chinese Pink may be raised from seeds in heat 
in spring and treated as annuals, or as biennials, in 
the same way as the Sweet William. 
