STOCK OR GILLYFLOWER. 81 



only just water sufficient to keep them from be- 

 coming over dry. To procure the petals and 

 flowers of a great size, all lateral shoots should 

 be taken off, which will cause the principal stem 

 to become strong and tall, frequently from two to 

 three feet, terminated by a spike of flowers ten 

 or fifteen inches in length, adorned with flowers 

 full and round, Hke roses, frequently measuring 

 between two and three inches in diameter. The 

 Stock thus treated, is one of the finest flowers 

 that can be cultivated, and it may be removed 

 either into the saloon or sunk into such parts of 

 the flower-border as may offer a vacant space. 



These flowers may also be propagated by 

 cuttings after the time of flowering. The cut- 

 tings should have the bark turned up about an 

 inch in depth, which will facilitate their taking 

 root, but these seldom make so fine plants as 

 those raised from seed, though by this means the 

 variety is secured perfect. 



We have frequently kept them alive for several 

 years in the open garden by cutting off all the 

 branches that had flowered just as they withered, 

 and the Double- White Stock, Aldus, is of longer 

 duration than either of the others, and after being 

 so treated for a year or two, the stem becomes 

 woody and firm, so as to resist a moderate frost. 

 Stocks should be planted about five in a clump, 



