? Obs. A name for the narrower-leaved varieties of a species of pink, Dianthus barbatus, as distinguished from those called SWEET-WILLIAM.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 96. Herbes … for windowes and pots…. Sweete Johns.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. clxxiv. 478. Sweete Iohns hath round iointed stalkes, as haue the Gilloflowers.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., 319. The sweete Iohn hath his leaues broader, shorter and greener then any of the former Gilloflowers, but narrower than sweete Williams.
1721. Mortimer, Husb. (ed. 3), II. 238. Sweet Williams, or Sweet Johns, are of several sorts, but the double and the Velvet are chiefly worth your propagating.
