Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 17._ _Ait. Kew. v. 2. p.
88._

CARYOPHYLLUS hortensis barbatus latifolius. _Bauh. Pin. 208._

ARMERIUS latifolius simplex. Single Sweete Williams. _Park. Parad.
p. 321._

LINNAEUS, in his _Spec. Pl._ appears not to have known of what country
the Sweet William was a native, and even in the _Hortus Kewensis_, this
circumstance is left undecided; yet DODONAEUS, in his _Pemptades_[7],
mentions its being found wild in Germany, and PROF. HOFFMAN confirms
this in his _Germanys Flora_[8].

At the time DODONAEUS wrote (1552) this plant was cultivated in the
Netherlands, from whence it was probably introduced to this country,
where it certainly is one of the oldest inhabitants of our gardens.

Beautiful as are the numerous varieties of this species of Dianthus,
Florists have not deemed it worthy of that peculiar attention which they
have bestowed on its more favoured relatives the Pink and Carnation, and
hence it probably has not arrived at that degree of improvement of which
it is capable; our figure is intended to represent one of the most
esteemed of its kind, viz. the _Painted Lady_ variety, which has a deep
rich purple eye, surrounded with a pure white, having the edge of the
petals slightly indented; but our colours fall far short of the beauties
of the original.

Besides single flowers producing an infinite variety of colours, there
are several double varieties of the Sweet William, some of which are
observed to have more scent than others.

To possess these plants in perfection, we must renew them yearly; for
though the root be perennial, it is apt to decay, especially if the soil
in which it grows be either very moist, or very dry; or if the air be
not pure, the single sorts must be raised from seeds, which should be
saved from the choicest flowers; the double sorts may be increased by
cuttings, pipings, or layers, in the same manner, and at the same time
as Pinks and Carnations; the seed should be sown early in April, the
seedlings transplanted into a bed in June, taking advantage of a wet day
and placed about six inches asunder each way; in September they will be
fit to transplant into the flower border, where they will blossom the
ensuing summer, during the months of June and July, and ripen their seed
in August.

[Footnote 7: In petrosis collibus et asperis, fabulosis apricisque
locis, apud Germanos nascitur. _Pempt. p. 177._]

[Footnote 8: Sponte