MULES OR HYBRIDS 59 



the Indian Pink, instead of the Carnation, was one 

 of the parents. At the time this plant appeared as 

 a chance seedling, Bradley was deep in the then novel 

 discovery of plant fertilization, and he at once pounced 

 upon the novelty as a splendid illustration of the correct- 

 ness of his theories. Otherwise the history, or perhaps 

 any knowledge of the hybrid, might have been lost, as no 

 doubt any crosses that may have been effected in earlier 

 years were. This plant was known for a long time both 

 as Fairchild's Sweet William and the Mule Pink. In 

 A Monthly Calender, 1738, "several Varieties" are 

 noted, but the authority is perhaps not reliable ; but in 

 the year 1770, a Scottish nurseryman indicates as a com- 

 panion to Fairchild's mule a fine red double Sweet 

 William, of the former of which, he says, it is a variety. 

 " Of late years there has been a variety obtained from 

 seed with a Sweet William leaf, upon which it has got 

 the name of Sweet William Indian Pink." It reproduced 

 itself freely from seed. Another old plant was reintro- 

 duced, about forty years ago, to general cultivation by the 

 late Thomas S. Ware, of Tottenham, by the name of 

 Dianthus barbatus magnificus, and became generally known 

 as Ware's Sweet William. This plant has been cultivated 

 in Scotland for a very long period, one of its names 

 being Murray's Sweet William. The plant is sterile, and 

 though the foliage is distinctly of the Sweet William type, 

 the habit is not the same. It grows to a height of six to 

 nine inches, and produces a large number of stems, which 

 form broad heads of deep crimson sweet-scented double 

 flowers. In some soils it is perennial, though at any time 

 it is apt to dry up and die during summer, hence it is 

 advisable to propagate young stock annually. September 

 is the most suitable time to undertake this operation, the 

 base of the leaf growths being then covered with air-roots, 

 and all that is necessary to ensure success is to take up a 

 few plants, pull them in pieces, and dibble or line these into 



