332 FLORA HISTORICA. 



The florist who is possessed of taste will not reject 

 the Hollyhock because it so familiarly flourishes 

 in the rustic gardens of the cottagers, as it will be 

 found^ equally appropriate for the decoration of 

 the most princely grounds, if properly dispersed 

 and grouped, so as to give cff'ect, and receive 

 assistance from other plants ; for it readily dis- 

 plays its eastern splendour, whilst many of the 

 exotic plants, that are so eagerly sought after, show 

 that they are 



Borne from their native genial airs away, 

 That scarce can their tender bud display. 



The tall Hollyhock is not adapted for the small 

 parterre, — its aspiring height befits it for a nobler 

 situation, and it rises with a degree of dignity 

 from amongst clumps of flowering shrubs that is 

 not excelled by any plant whatever. But to give 

 full effect to this flower, they should be planted 

 in clumps of from five to ten plants, according to 

 the size of the grounds ; and each of these clumps 

 should be formed of one colour, contriving to have 

 a clump of the darkest-coloured flowers between 

 two plantations of the paler colours. Where the 

 grounds are very extensive, clumps of mixed va- 

 rieties may be admitted, but these never tell so 

 well in the perspective as a mass of a single colour. 

 It considerably adds to the beauty of these plants 

 when they are so placed as to appear emerging 



