OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
91 
the brilliancy of colour which is so agreeable in the Sweet, "William. The plant is also entirely covered with a 
very short and close pubescence. The flowers have no fragrance, and are almost hidden by the long sharply- 
pointed bracts. The species is a native of Caucasus, whence it was introduced in 1820. It is quite hardy, 
and thrives best in poof rocky or stony soil. 
2.— DIANTHUS BARBATUS, Lin. THE BEARDED PINK, OR SWEET WILLIAM. 
and pink, to white. Some are also semi-double, and others double ; 
nearly all of which have existed in British gardens since 1629, as 
Parkinson mentions them in his Paradise, &c., published in that year. 
Wliat is called the mule Pink is generally said to be a hybrid between 
this species and the Carnation. 
EKoaiviNGS. — Bot. Mag. t. 205 ; and our^^. 2 in Plate 22. 
SpKciFic Chiracter. — Flowers aggregate, in bundles ; calycine 
scales or bracts ovate, awl-shaped, equal in length to the tube ; petals 
beai*ded ; leaves lanceolate, nerved. 
Varieties. — These are very numerous ; the flowers in a bed of 
seedlings varying from dark-purple or crimson, through rose-colour 
Description, &c. — This species appears to have been introduced as early as 1552, in the reign of Elizabeth, 
though it must have been soon lost, as it seems to have been re-introduced in 1573. It is a native of Germany, 
and is quite hardy in Britisli gardens. The flowers of the Sweet William are produced in large clusters, each 
separate flower resembling a small Chinese pink, except in the calycine scales or bracts, which are very long 
and sharply pointed. Some of the varieties are very beautiful, particularly the deep rose colour, and one which 
is white, spotted with pale pink. The most beautiful varieties I ever saw of this plant were in Scotland, at 
Milton Lockhart on the Clyde, where the Sweet Williams were so beautiful as almost to deserve to take rank 
as florists' flowers. Some of the varieties have also more fragrance than others. Though the Sweet William is 
a perennial, it is not a long-lived plant, particularly in London or any other large town, or if the soil be very 
moist or very dry ; and it seldom flowers well after the second year. These plants do best when treated as 
biennials, in the same manner as recommended for the Brompton stocks (see p. 81). The double kinds may 
be increased by cuttings, pipings, or layers, in the same manner as carnations and pinks. 
3.— DIANTHUS AGGREGATUS, Pair. THE CROWDED PINK. 
Engratings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard., 2nd ser. t. IC6 ; and our ovate, mucronate, short ; petals toothed, beardless j leaves glaucous, 
/iff, 1 in Plate 22. j broad, chimnelled, without nerves, connate and ciliated at the base. 
Specific Character. — Flowers aggregate, sessile ; calycine scales I {G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This splendid species is closely allied to the Sweet William, but the bracts or calycine 
scales are broader and more erect, so that they have not the same bristly or fringed appearance. The flowers 
are very large, and of a most brilliant scarlet, so dazzling indeed as to be almost painful to look at in the 
sunshine. The native country and year of introduction of this plant are unknown, but it does not appear to be 
either a hybrid or a variety of the Sweet William, though some have supposed it to be so. It is quite hardy 
in British gardens ; and is a true perennial, lasting several years in a light sandy soil, and being propagated by 
layers or pipings like the carnation, as it rarely ripens seed. 
4— DIANTHUS CARTHUSIANORUM, Lin. THE CARTHUSIANS' PINK. 
Kkgravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard , 2nd ser. t. 282 ; Bot. Mag. j calycine scales four, ovate, awned, shorter than the tube ; involucre 
t. 2039; and our /ifi. 4 in Plate 22. oblong, awned, shorter than the head of flowers; petals crenate ; 
Specific Character. — Flowers aggregate, oblong, capitate, stalked ; bearded ; leaves linear, 3-nerved. ( G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — A pretty little species, introduced about the same time from France or Italy, that the 
n2 
