NOVKMBER. 241 



THE SWEET WILLIAM. 



This is a kind of Pink tliat is said to be indigenous to Ger- 

 many, from whence it has been scattered over all parts of 

 Europe. For what it wants in fragrance it supplies by masses 

 of flowers and splendour of colours, which ensure it a welcome 

 reception in all classes of gardens. D. liembertus Dodoneus, 

 who was physician to the Emperor Charles V., is reputed to 

 have been the first author who has written about this plant. 

 Dr. Turner has not noticed it in his work of 15(J8; but 

 twenty-nine years afterwards it is mentioned by Gerard, who 

 says, " We have in our London gardens a kinde of Sweet 

 William, bearing most fine and pleasant white flowers, spotted 

 very confusedly with reddish spots, which setteth foorth the 

 beautie thereof, and hath beene taken of some to be the plant 

 called of the later writers the Pride of Austrich." The same 

 author quaintly observes, that " these plants are kept in gar- 

 dens more to please the eie than either the nose or belly." 



But although this really pretty plant has long been an 

 inhabitant of our gardens, and although many fine varieties 

 exist of it, yet few will deny that it is still capable of great 

 improvement; and from wdiat we have seen both last year 

 and this, we trust we are right in stating that attention has 

 been and is still being directed towards this point. Among 

 others, our friend Mr. Hunt of High Wycomb has been cul- 

 tivating Sweet Williams with ardour for at least these twenty 

 years back, and many magnificent flowers have rewarded his 

 exertions. The fine variety represented by our plate is an 

 instance of his success. It was selected from a stand of thirty- 

 six sorts shewn by this gentleman, in July last, at the Surrey 

 Zoological Gardens, where " they were the theme of universal 

 admiration and surprise." Each truss formed in itself a bril- 

 liant bouquet of flowers, such as it is seldom our lot to wit- 

 ness. We believe that they will be *' let out" next season. 



We need scarcely say that the Sweet William is perfectly 

 hardy, and that its blossoms last long in perfection, for it is 

 well known to possess these qualities ; but the art of raising 

 improved varieties is, perhaps, not generally so well under- 

 stood ; and on this point, as well as on his mode of management, 

 we are glad to say that Mr. Hunt has promised us an article. 

 We need, therefore, only add, that it is easily increased by 

 cuttings, and that few flowers require less trouble or atten- 

 tion. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. I. KG. XI. 



