PINKS, a genus (Dianthus) of mostly perennial herbs of the order Caryophyllaccr. The species, of which about 200 have been de scribed, are natives of the Eastern hemisphere, especially Europe and western Asia. Their jointed stems, which grow in tufts, bear grass like leaves and terminal, often fralzrant, flow ers either in dusters or solitary. Their popular name is derived from the prevailing color of the flowers, though white and purple are com mon in garden varieties. For centuries the pinks have been cultivated, their flowers, hardi ness and ease of cultivation rendering them garden favorites. They are easily propagated from seeds or cuttings; thrive in well-drained. rather light loam; and the perennial kinds mulched during the winter with loose litter. straw or brush to prevent the formation of ice around the stems and to hold the snow and keep the frost in the ground until late.in the spring. The seeds are usually sown under glass in early spring and the plants set in the garden when the weather has become settled. Cuttings
are used for double and other choice varieties. Seeds sown in late summer will produce plants for early spring blossoming if mulched during the winter.
Among the best-known species are the fol lowing: Common grass, or garden, Scotch or pheasant's eye pink (D. plumarius), a general favorite in old-fashioned gardens; sweet-wil liam (D. barbatus), one of the oldest and most popular of garden flowers; clove pink, picotee, grenadine or carnation (D. caryophyllus), popu lar in various forms either as a garden or a greenhouse plant (see CullyAram); maiden pink (D. deltoides). popular as an edging plant; D. profiler and the Deptford pink( D. armeria), well-known weeds naturalized in the Eastern States; Chinese or Indian pink (D. chinensis) and D. superbus, also popular garden species. In rock gardens D. alpinus, D. negleotus and D. glaciatis are favorites. They are too easily covered by earth washed upon them by rains to be of value in level gardeps.