(Dianthus RequieniJ. 
A very large number of the species of 
hid Pink are admirably adapted for cul- 
ivation in the rock garden. Some of 
bem would also prove suitable for 
aturalising on old walls, and would 
eadily take to artificial wall gardening, 
'hat under notice comes from the 
yrenees. The whole plant is only about 
in. to 4 in. high, and each flower stem 
arries only a single bloom. The leaves 
re very short, narrow and dark green 
,ke a dense tuft of grass. The real 
erennial portion of the plant, of course, 
onsists of the very short stems carrying 
rese leaves, and as the leaves are very 
nail, so a large number of these shoots 
an be packed into small pieces, so that 
healthy, well developed tuft of this 
ick-loving Dianthus produces a propor- 
onately large number of flowers in the 
lace. 
The petals are wedge-shaped and pink, 
iding even paler with age, and are 
eeply fingered. These fringes, we think, 
ive . the flowers a very characteristic 
>pect, notwithstanding the fact that they 
i not agree with the canons of the 
orist; while Carnations and the garden 
ink, but especially laced Pinks, may 
ive perfectly smooth flowers without 
inges or teeth, yet in these wild rock 
inks they are extremely appropriate, and 
ve them a beauty all their own. 
Owing to the very short character of 
e stems, good plantsmen would at once 
tnceive that these could not be layered 
order to propagate them. Cuttings, 
erefore, are the readiest means by which 
is species can be increased, unless the 
ant ripens seeds, when, of course, they 
luld be expected to reproduce seedlings 
ue to the character of the parent. Those 
10 wish to root cuttings should take 
em off some time between the end of 
me and the beginning of August, put- 
ig them in light, sandy soil in a frame 
under a hand-light. 
-- 
lie Blue-Flowered . . . 
! 
Stonecrop 
February 29, 1908. 77/£ GARDENING WORLD . M r 
REQUIEN’S 
Divine plower 
(Sedum caeruleum.) 
A very large proportion of the Stone- 
ips have yellow flowers. The next 
ist common colour would be purple, 
t that would vary with shades of rose 
pink, according to the species or to 
nations. A few of them have white 
wers. A much more uncommon colour 
blue, and that is represented by S. 
eruleum, an annual that is well adapted 
planting in dry situations on the . 
:kerv. The flowers are small individu- 
y, but very numerous and of a pleas- 
jf) decided sky-blue. Possibly this col- 
r would have been best shown up by 
[sen leaves, but in dry situations ex- 
■sed to the sun the leaves are usually 
; a decided red, and so are the stems, 
te latter are branching, but spread 
Dianthus 
over the ground, forming a most lovely 
carpet, so that those who would like some¬ 
thing out of the common could scarcely 
do better than get a packet of seed of 
this blue flowered gem amongst the Stone- 
crops. 
The seeds may be sown in light, sandy 
soil during March and treated just in the 
same way as half-hardy annuals, prick¬ 
ing them off into boxes as soon as they 
have made a rough leaf or two. They 
can then be handled without fear of in¬ 
juring them by transplanting, because, 
quieni. Mac'arcn and Sons. 
like other Stonecrops, the stems and 
leaves are of a succulent nature and put 
up with a deal of bad usage without get¬ 
ting dried up. It is quite useless to plant 
out this or any of its relatives in a shady 
situation expecting the best results. 
They will grow, and as a rule too much, 
but they do not flower so freely as they 
do in dry, sunny situations. ’ The ac¬ 
companying illustration shows a small 
patch of the blue flowered Stonecrop 
photographed in the rockery at Kew at 
the beginning of July last. 
Sedum caeruleum. Maclaren and Sons. 
