924 
THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 
PINKS FOR THE ROCK GARDEN. | 
Among tile dianthuses, or pinks, Avhicli 
await the speeialist in this exquisite genus 
of plants we have an einibarrasising choice 
for those who only wish to cultivate a few 
of the liest in their rock gardens or on 
their little rockeries. They are indispen¬ 
sable—or, at least, some of them—and they 
are always highly appreciated when in 
bloom. Even when not in bloom many of 
them are objects of pleasure to all who 
love their flowers. 
They are not difficult to cultivate as a 
rule, and a light loam will suit the majo- 
Equal in value, in the estimation of the 
v riter, is Dianth^^s neglectus, but it must 
be added that this is a variable species, 
and some of the plants supplied are from 
seeds and are of different grades of merit. 
It grows to some three inches in height (or 
a little more with some inferior varie¬ 
ties), and affords us a supply of brilliant 
carmine ffoAvers which, in the true species 
are coloured buff on the outside. But 
there are many poor plants of this pink in 
cultivation; some are iX)or in colour, some 
ai*e taller and less refined; and the reader 
rally prove itself tes testy and capricious, 
and l3e more likely to thrive, and to rai.se 
above its glossy leaves its solitary rosy 
flowers on stems two inches high. 
In I). Freyni we have a little gem, dear 
to the heart of the lover of the tiniest and 
daintiest alpine flowers. It has tiny leaves, 
almost close-set on the soil, or forming 
tiny mounds. Thence rise little rose or 
rose-purple flowers. It has near allies in 
I). Ijereschi and D. microlepis. In a dry, 
gritty compost of loam, sand, and grit, and 
surfaced with an inch of fine grit, these 
all thrive well. But on no account must 
they be parched by drought. Should they 
be threatened with this, some water 
should bo given at the roots of these daintv 
gems. 
Practically eveiybody loves the Maiden 
I’ink, I), deltoides, with its tufts of green 
leaves and its rose or white flowers, pret¬ 
tily zoned with a deeper tone. It has a 
EVERGREEN CANDYTUFTS FLOWERING IN A ROCKERY WALL. 
(See opposite page.) 
rity. Some, however, prefer the moraine, 
and practically every one of those beauti¬ 
ful plants desires plenty of sun. A few 
require a little lime in the soil if they are 
to attain theii* fullest beauty, and those 
with glaucous leaves are more particularly 
lime-lovers, delighting in the addition of 
some lime-rubbish or limestone chips to the 
compost. 
Of the pinks for the rock garden none 
can well surpass the lovely Dianthus alpi- 
nus—the Alpine Pink—^which, when happy, 
makes spreading tufts of glossy leaves sur¬ 
mounted by glowing rose-coloui'ed fiower.« 
of the most charming hue, and only 
raised some two inches above the shining 
cmpet of green whence they spring. A 
charming plant is this, and one which is 
most at home on the limestone rocks, or 
in loam with lime mixed with it, or in 
the moraine. It is a sine qua non, and all 
rockeries or moraines should possess it. 
should seek in the nurseries for a compact, 
low-growing plant, with grassy leaves, and 
large, brilliant carmine flowers. It grows 
readily in loam and grit. Some find it 
does well in the moraine, but others have 
a contrary experience. 
The Cheddar pink, Dianthus csesius, as 
we see it in gardens is a variable species. 
Many of the plants appear to be hybrids,, 
and only a small proportion have the neat 
habit and the pretty pink flowers of the 
native Cheddar pink of the famous cliffs. 
It makes good masses, however, and wants 
to be kept poorly fed if it is to l>e neat and 
compact as we would like to have our 
plants in the choice roc*kery. It has a com¬ 
panion in D. suavis, which resembles it 
considerably. 
As for the Glacier pink—Dianthus gla- 
cialis—we may say that it is a fair maiden 
of a coy temper when on the rockery. It 
likes ei moraine best, and there will gene- 
glorified sister, in the shape of D. (iraiii- 
ticus, the Granite Pink, which is taller and 
has bigger flowers. These will do almost 
an^'Avhere, in sun or partial shade. 
Dianthus squarrosus is a pleasing little 
pink, making a close carpet of grey leaves, 
and giving an abundance of fragrant, 
fring^ blooms. D. frigidus is another 
nice dianthus with handsome pink flowers 
on short stems. It is a form of D. sylves- 
tris. A charming flower, but not 
the easiest to grow, is D. callizoniis, which 
delights everybody who sees it. If^® 
flowers, on two-inch stems, are very large 
for such a plant, and are brilliant crim¬ 
son, zoned with deep crimson spots m 
fascinating way. It likes a rather peat} 
soil, but full of stones, and best enjo}^'' 
partial shade. 
A pretty pink of considerable beaut} is 
D. arvernensis, the Auvergne pink, 
is a miniature Cheddar pink, and suiteu 
