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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



it far superior to any other stock in use. 

 For out-door culture, there are many who 

 use it extensively and much approve of it, 

 while others who have tried it, having failed 

 to produce satisfactory plants with it, are, 

 perhaps, become a little prejudiced, and will 

 not even grow it. These latter I suspect 

 have failed from two causes, first, the im- 

 proper preparation and cultivation of the 

 stock, and secondly, the indiscriminate 

 working upon it of all varieties, without the 

 due regard of their habit of growth. In 

 the former instance, no kind will succeed 

 upon it unless the stock in the first instance 

 is properly prepared and properly worked ; 

 and in the latter, a knowledge of the kinds 

 that are adapted for it should be acquired, 

 and those only should be worked. I have 

 at various times budded nearly every variety 

 upon it, and have long since come to the 

 conclusion that it will not suit all kinds. 



But for all the free and vigorous, and many 

 of the moderate growing Hybrid Perpetuals, 

 Hybrid China, Hybrid Bourbon and Bour- 

 bon families, and a few of the Tea-scented 

 sorts, it is admirably suited, and also proves 

 a most valuable and lasting stock, existing 

 proofs of which now abound in my nursery. 

 It is also the best of all stocks for " Pillar 

 Roses," which, when budded upon it, form 

 noble plants in a very short time. But for 

 the dwarf and delicate growing Hybrid Per- 

 petual, Bourbon, or Tea-scented kinds, it is 

 not at all suited, nor, in fact, will they last 

 long even if they once get a fair start ; the 

 stock being of a very vigorous and excitable 

 habit, requires a variety somewhat equal in 

 growth to support its vigour, otherwise it 

 will either exhaust itself or kill .the variety 

 budded upon it. It should always be worked 

 close to the ground, and planted above the 

 collar of the bud. 



THE CULTURE AND EXHIBITION OF THE HOLLYHOCK. 



BY MR. W. CHATER, OP THE SAFFRON WALDEN NURSERY. 



The Hollyhock requires good old garden 

 soil, well trenched over to the depth of two 

 feet, with plenty of thoroughly decomposed 

 manure, such as old cucumber beds, or night 

 soil mixed with the earth. If the subsoil is 

 wet they will thrive remarkably well in 

 the summer, but in the winter, wet is very 

 injurious to them, when old plants are 

 allowed to remain; to prevent which, I 

 remove the mould round the neck of the 

 plant, and fill up with white sand, about 

 six inches round the stem, level with the 

 surface ; it is simply to preserve them from 

 wet and insects; from which, in the 

 winter, they are apt to suffer very much, if 

 not killed. I strongly advise young plants 

 being planted every year, as you would 

 Dahlias, to secure fine flowers. They may 

 be propagated by single eyes in July and 

 August, also by cuttings in the spring, 

 placed on a slight bottom heat. Plants 

 raised in the summer, are best preserved, 

 by repotting them in October into large pots 

 — the larger the better, in light rich sandy 

 earth, and placed in a cold frame or green- 

 house, giving plenty of air on all favorable 

 occasions; they will then grow during the 

 winter. In March or April turn them 

 out into the open ground, and they will 

 bloom as fine and as early as if planted 

 in the autumn. Plants even put out in 

 May, will flower the same year. Plant 

 them not. less than four feet from row 

 to row, and three feet apart in the row. If 



grouped in beds, not nearer than three feet 

 each way. They will grow well in the 

 shade of distant trees, but by no means 

 must the roots interfere. In Slay or June, 

 when the spikes are grown a foot high, 

 thin them out according to the strength of 

 the plant; if well established, and very 

 strong, leave four spikes; if weak, two or 

 three ; when they are required for exhibi- 

 tion, only one must be left. 



The following observations on exhibiting, 

 perhaps, may not be out of place here, and 

 as I believe the best way of showing the 

 Hollyhock is in spikes, I give my opinion 

 of what I consider the standard of a perfect 

 spike. 



In judging, the first point I notice, is the 

 individual flowers on the spike, the perfection 

 of which, consists in the petals being of 

 thick substance, the edges smooth and even. 

 The florets occupying the centre must be 

 full and compact, closely arranged, rising in 

 the middle to a half globular form, with a 

 stiff guard petal extending about half an 

 inch, or in proportion to the size of the 

 centre ball, so that the different parts of 

 the flower present a uniform appearance. 

 Second — the arrangement of the flowers on 

 the spike should be regular, not crowded 

 together into a confused mass; nor loosely 

 hanging with open spaces between each 

 flower, but so disposed that the shape of 

 each may be distinctly seen, and fully blown, 

 the uppermost covering the top : nothing 



