Garden Pink.—This is sufficiently hardy to endure our
winters, suffering only if allowed to become large, when the
shoots form such a mat that they damp off or rot from excess of
moisture. It requires a good, rich garden soil, that is thoroughly
well drained. We have found that by layering the shoots after
the plants have done flowering, and thus keeping up a supply of
young plants, there is no difficulty in preserving them in the climate
of that part of Western Ontario within the influence of the lakes,
but if this be neglected, they are almost sure to go in winter
with the damp. Florists have laid down certain rules, by which
the quality of the flowers is decided ; those having large and
broad petals, with finely fringed edges, the ground color being
white or rose, with a dark velvety eye, and a delicate lacing of


HARDY HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 295


the same color as the eye around the entire margin ot the petal,
stand in the front rank. The method of propagating by layering
is described under the head of Carriation; new varieties are
raised from seed.
China Pinks.—These last only two years, being biennial.
They are dwarf in their habit of growth, quite hardy, producing
most beautiful flowers, both the first and second year, but more
strongly the second season. The flowers are richly marked with
dark shades of crimson, with edgings of rose, pink, or white, in
endless variety of pattern, but have no perfume. Seed should
be saved from the double varieties, in order to secure a large
proportion of double flowers. The Hreprwici and Heprwien-
LACINIATUS and DiapEmatus are very large flowering varieties of
the China Pink.
