286 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
mignonette of our childhood, which we then thought, 
perhaps partly from its associations, the real charm of 
our gardens. We Would say here that the florists and 
seedsmen seem to have run mad on varieties, and each 
seems to think himself the fortunate possessor of the 
We have not a class of plants that shows greater’variety 
of form and color than is to be found in the China pinks. 
They make splendid autumn flowering plants, if the seed 
is sown in May, in the open border. Those now in flower 
will bltfbm again in June; and by sowing seed in a hot- 
Dianthus Chinensis (China Pink). 
“ largest ’’ and the “ best of all.” We have given each a 
fair trial, and until something better presents itself we 
shall be content with the Golden Queen. 
But surprises never come singly. Here we find our 
China pinks alive and vigorous, some of them in full 
flower; the unopened buds defied the frosts, and on sun¬ 
ny days they open as beautifully as in summer. The 
pink family is a large one, and its members are all useful; 
they not only show off well, but they are enduring. There 
is a substance to the flowers that harmonizes with colors. 
bed early and again in the open border in May, these use¬ 
ful flowers may be had from June until November. 
Our balsams—where are they? Dead. There is no 
mistaking the condition of a balsam. When in life, and 
the season is favorable for it, there is no annual more 
showy and cheerful; but the first frost kills it completely 
—no half-way work—no compromise. It is dead, root 
and branch ; and, what is still worse, if the plant is loaded 
with ripe seed, not one will be found on it or under it the 
next morning after frost has visited it. The constitution 
