HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Bj J. Gebbie.

Dianthus (fiom Dkw, divine, and anthus a flower) are a large and interesting group of plants, the majority of them being highlj ornamental, hardy perennials, indispensable for the decoration of the flower garden. Of the best known are carnatioiis and piCotees (Dianthus carophyilu«), differing from each other only in the disposition of the colouring. The carnation is striped or ribboned outwards, or selfcoloured. The picotee is edged or featheied inwards. The superb and highlyscented flowers of the carnation and picotee ere fast becoming as popular as the rose and sweet pea. Throughout the Commonwealth and the Dominion exhibitions of carnations are periodically held, and these shows to a considerable extent help to populause these flowers. Those who wish to ha*e t'.eir flower beds- and borders gay next '•eason «hou d plant carnations freely, and the best lime to do th's is dm ing the iintumn months, so that the plants may become fully established before winter. Stronger and better plants may be obtained" early m the season than during spring, when the chances are that giowers will hate '■old out of the be-t plants and variot es. The soil in which to plant carnations i« one which is not too light and hot in summer and not too hea\y and wet in winter. A good sweet loam with plent\ of drainage is what they like. If the foil is very, light it should be well manuicd. but no very strong or fiesh manure si ould be used in carnation growing. Old hoi-bed manure is about the be-t to use, and it should be kept well below the surface, for there is nothing more calculated to encourage disease than a lot of manure near the surface. If, on the other hand, the ground is very heavy rothmg is better to add than old rnoitar nibbish. as it- lightens the ground and the plants revel in it. If mortar rubbish is lot available road-scrapings, leaf mould, or -and may be dug in. Carnations are generally gro.vn in the mixed bolder, and there they don't look amiss, but I piefer to see them growing in a bed by themselves. They can then be attended to more easily than when scattered about the borders, and the- are more interesting when seen together. Carnations must have plenty of light and air, but in choosing a place for a bed the windiest and hottest part of the garden would not be the best. Plant them if you- can in a place where they will be shaded durinsf part of the day from the pun. and the blooms will last much longer. Three rows lft apart in a bed and the plants 12in apait in the rows would be a fair ave.a^c distance to allow, and in planting be caieful to plant firm. A handful of prepared soil round the loots will give them a scod start, and if any of the plant> are of long growth they may be tied to sticks to prevent them being blown about by the wind. The list of varieties to 'elect from is an extensive one. and new varieties are being continually added, so rhat it is a difficult matter to nick out a ■Jozen or two and say these are ihe best, as ;iU catalogued are good. One may prefer yellow-ground puotees or flaked carnations, another white grounds, and so on. In a bed of 60 varieties which came under my i.ohre <lvi ing the present month I noted tl>e follow in" varieties as being distinct: — Cprc. a scarlet flake and a good exhibition varo'y: Rui'-t, white ground, striped with ro-o : Pearl, a magnificent white carnat on v ith larsre flowers; white Pearl, very large n:d of finest form, of stronger growth than Pearl: Germama. bright yellow self (this is one of the best yellows): GoidjloJcs. yellow ground edged and marked with rose: Dazzler. briaht scarlet: Rose Roautv. a rich rose self; Pride of Great Britain, a large handsome yellow self ; Don Juan, buff ground, flaked red and purple, flowers large and fine: Sunlight, heavily edged and striped with rose on a yellow ground; Lochinch. slaty blue (a peculiar shade, but a large and good flower). These are all carnations. Of white and yellow ground picotees the most distinct were :— Annie Cousins, white with purple «dge: Mrs Theomin, red edge; Pioneer. light purple edge. Orpheus, Briton. Princess Alice, Orion. Florance. Lottie. Edison. Medina, and Miss Dawson were all very fine, and should be grown in every collection.

DIANTHUS.

DIANTHUS PLUMOSUS.

This is the florist's pinks, which differ so little in their botanical characteristics from the carnation and picotoe that some consider them \arietiCs of Dianthus carophyllus. This is wrontr. as they are the offsrrin? of Dianthus plumcsus. and as flori'-ts' Powei-s arc qinie di=iinct. There I-* ot the ba-c of eacli petal an e-v c or centre of colom, uhc'i 1= wertihar to it«elf .uid never occurs in oartat'ons or picctee=. There i^ also a lar in? of colour near the odf>e of (lie petals and a nanow strip of white round the etlcre of the flower. A pink without it.s lacins would be worthless as a. show flower and the more distinct the lacing the better. The propagation »r>d culture of the pink is the same as .n tho case of the carnation, and at one timo they were as highly esteemed, but of late years they eppear to have become neglected. Another neglected member of the same family is

DIANTHUS BARBATUS, or perhaps better known as sweetwilliam This is a good, old-fashioned border plant, having found its way from Germany into England in 1579, so that it is an old inhabitant of our gardens. During late years, by careful selection, some beautiful strains have been produced, the one known as Holborn Glory being particularly fine. This strain pioducos largo and perfectly formed flowers, the indu idual blooms having bcri orov.n to the size of a penny piece. Tht> r-M-kin^-s are rog"lai and well

denned, the centre being generally white. They are of the easiest culture and are best treated as biennials, although strictly spea.king they are perennial. It is not too late to sow «eed now for blooming in the holders next summer, where they will make a. good show whilo they remain in Llcom.

DIANTHUS CIIIXEXSIS,

The, Indian pink (Dianthus Chinensi*) and its many beautiful varieties are mdispen=a,ble for garden decoration, equally fitted to adorn the poor man's garden or the spacious grounds of the millionaire. The varieties of D. Heddevvigii and D. Lacinatus arc the most beautiful of all. and both single and double forms are of the richest shades, fringed, mottled, 6triped, flaked, and margined, etc., in a beauti f ul manner. Sown in spring they will bloom during summer, and arc best treated as annuals. Although in some places they may be of longer duration the flowers are not c -o fine after the first season.