336 FLORA HISTORTCA. 



rank in rural economy than that of feeding bees. 

 For some years past it has been known that a good 

 strong cloth may be made from the fibrous bark of 

 the flower-stalks of this plant and in the year 1821 ; 

 about two hundred and eighty acres of land, near 

 Fhnt, in Wales, were planted with the common 

 Hollyhock, with the view of converting the fibres 

 of this plant into thread similar to that of hemp or 

 flax. In the process of manufacture, it was dis- 

 covered that the plant yields a fine blue dye, equal 

 in beauty and permanence to the best indigo. This 

 important discovery cannot fail of producing bene- 

 ficial consequences, both in a commercial and agri- 

 cultural point of view. 



The receptacles containing the seed of these 

 plants should be collected when ripe in dry w-eather, 

 and placed in situations where they will receive no 

 damp during the winter : these may be sown about 

 the middle of April, in beds of light earth, from 

 ■which the young plants may be removed when they 

 have six or eight leaves each, into nursery beds, 

 placing them about tw^elve inches from each other, 

 observing to water them, should the season be dry, 

 until the plants have taken root : they should be 

 then kept free from weeds until October, when they 

 may be planted out where they are to remain. AVe 

 have sometimes been successful in sowing the seeds 

 as soon as they are ripe in the autumn ; and by 



