JANUARY. 



stopped, they will never produce that fine length of spike all in bloom 

 at one time, which forms so splendid an object in the garden. All 

 superfluous buds, too, must now be carefully thinned out. Holly- 

 hocks differ very much in this respect ; some varieties merely require 

 the secondary or smaller buds to be removed, while others will pro- 

 duce nothing but a confused mass of ill-arranged bloom, unless free 

 thinning be had recourse to : no more buds should be left on a 

 spike than will be sufficient when expanded to cover it completely, 

 without crowding ; to attain this end they should be left as far as 

 possible at regular intervals one above another. As the buds ex- 

 pand, the leaves which interfere should be gradually cut away, to 

 give room for the flowers to open perfectly and evenly all round. 

 Great difference of opinion exists whether spikes for exhibition 

 should be entirely denuded of leaves or not ; we think that a few 

 leaves at the base of the spike, if fresh, and not too large, and espe- 

 cially the secondary or smaller ones which are produced on the 

 flower-stalks, are ornamental, and add to the beauty of the flowers. 



If the spikes are intended for exhibition, they must be carefully 

 shaded from the sun, and protected from rain. 

 The most convenient method of shading we 

 have yet been able to discover is contrived as 

 follows : " A square stake being driven down 

 by its side, and the spike firmly secured in a 

 proper position, a tin shade, like those used 

 for Dahlias, but of larger diameter (about four- 

 teen inches), must be fixed over the top ; below 

 this two or three stout iron wire hoops of 

 the same diameter must be fastened on the 

 stake, so as to encircle the spike at regular 

 distances from the tin, the lower hoop being 

 upon a level with the lower blooms intended 

 to be shaded ; the tin and hoops should each 

 be attached to a square socket furnished with 

 a screw, and corresponding in size with the f~? 

 stake, by means of which they can be slid up 

 and down, and fastened at any required height. 

 A piece of calico must now be tied round the 

 whole, by means of a broad hem top and bot- 

 tom, with a piece of tape running in each, the 

 top being tied round the tin, and the bottom a 

 little drawn in under the lower hoop ; an ad- 

 ditional tie may be provided in the middle, to 

 make all safe. This contrivance has this great advantage over others, 

 that it is capable of being extended to any required length, and upon 

 the whole is less cumbrous, and easier managed than any we have 

 seen. It should be recollected, however, that every thing must be 

 made of rather extra stoutness, as the shades will necessarily be so 

 large that the wind will have considerable power over them. It 

 should also be stated, that with dark varieties it is better that the 

 calico should not stretch the whole way round, a few inches should 



Hollyhock shade before 

 the calico is tied round. 



