PIN IC. The flower so called (Dianthus plumarius) belongs to the gentle Dianthus, to rattle!) also belong the carnation (Diandres caryo phyilas), the sweet-whit= (Dianthus barbatus), and others, and the cultivation of all of them Is similar. Although some of the species are indigenous to Great Britain, by far the greatest number are natives of the southern parts of Europe ; abounding in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and along of the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Sm., inhabiting rocks, mountains, and dry, warm, stony places most frequently, although occasionally living in sandy and damper places.
It is therefore obvious that the gardener must pay special attention to this peculiarity, and guard by every means in his power against the access of wet, unless when the plants are In a state of free growth. In the winter, when they are at rest, they bear niolsture very irupatiently. It is therefore either upon roekwork or in pots housed in winter that tho species of Dianthus are best preserved. The soil hi which they are planted should consist of equal quantities of good fresh loam and vegetable mould, to which may be added a little horse dung and sand, the whole to be mixed well, and allowed to remain for a Beeson before being used.
All the species may be propagated either by seeds or by layering or piping. Both operations should be performed about the end of May or beginning of June. Layering Is decidedly the surest method, as the young shoot derives support from the parent plant until it has protruded rootlets of its own for nourishment. In this operation
gardeners generally practise a method technically called tongireing, which is simply making a slit with a knife, from a little below the joint, up through its centre, and then carefully pegging the young shoot down as in the common way. Pipings are a sort of cuttings, and will root freely in a melon or cucumber frame, which can often conveniently be applied to this purpose in the end of the season ; but as artificial heat is not essential to success, those who have not this convenience may succeed very well with a small hand-glass.
If the pipings arc not in a shaded situation, it is necessary to shade them when the rm's rays are powerful; because the rootlets are for some time insufficient to supply the stem with fluid enough to counter act the effects of evaporation. It is the want of due attention to this which causes the result of propagating the Dianthus by pipings to be considered uncertain : if shade anti moisture are supplied for a sufficiently long time, there is little risk of the pipings not forming young plants.
When the young plants are rooted they should be transplanted into beds, about 6 inches apart ; the soil of the bed being a rich loam and not less than a foot in depth, end well drained. As they begin to bloom remove all but two or three of the flower-buds, and the flower stems should be supported by being tied loosely to sticks.