which are more diminutive. Its height, generally, 
exceeds even that of the Carnation. 
Old authors extol this species for its fragrance. 
Parkinson calls it the feathered Pink of Austria, 
and says it is of a most fragrant scent, comforting 
the spirits and senses afar off; and Curtis justly ob- 
serves that a few of its flowers communicate to a 
nosegay a delicate and most delicious smell; or 
placed in a vial of water, they will even scent a 
small apartment. There is a white variety of this 
plant, but it is not oftentimes met with, although, 
formerly, it was the most common of the two. 
The Dianthus superbus is of short duration, which 
accounts for its scarcity in small collections. It 
should be propagated annually, by layers, or by 
cuttings ; or, which is far better, from seeds. Pro- 
fessor Martyn says it deserves a place in every 
curious garden, on account of the elegance and the 
delicious fragrance of its flowers ; and, also, that it 
grows naturally in a calcareous soil, and will thrive 
luxuriantly in a garden, if chalk be mixed with the 
common mould, but not otherwise. We doubt not 
but this admixture may frequently be useful, but we 
have seen it grow luxuriantly in a well manured 
strong loam — almost clay, without any addition of 
chalk. Its seeds should be sown in the spring, and 
if the open ground be chosen for this purpose, it 
should be on a light soil ; but it is far preferable to 
sow them in a pot, and submit them to the stimulus 
of a temperate hotbed. When the young plants are 
an inch or two high, they should be removed to a 
nursery bed, to remain till spring, when they should 
be removed to the borders for flowering. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 3, 82. 
