i879-] NOTES ON THE HOLLYHOCK. 465 



under my own observation might be useful. However, I considered 

 it best, with reference to the disease which of late years has attacked 

 this plant, to postpone any, remarks until I had the results of this 

 season before me. The disease, or more properly fungus, first made 

 its appearance with me in the autumn of 1877; but I could not alto- 

 gether consider it to be imported, seeing that no new plants had 

 been received for three years previously. Of course I had heard 

 alarming accounts of it before this time, but, luckily, never had any- 

 thing to do with it— not even having seen it until the spring of that 

 year, when, looking over a nurseryman's stock, and having some very 

 fine varieties, I naturally felt rather anxious and very unwilling to 

 consign them to the fire-heap, but at once removed the few leaves on 

 which the disease had shown itself, and continued doing so until they 

 were done blooming. Having a plentiful supply of young plants on 

 which the disease had not shown itself, these were planted out in 

 autumn, and I decided to allow the old diseased ones to remain for 

 another season. A few died out through the winter, but the others 

 pushed away quite strong and healthy like, when, about the middle of 

 July, the enemy made its appearance, this time in much stronger force. 

 However, not being altogether dependent on these plants, I commenced 

 with the old remedy, cutting off the leaves, and by the beginning of 

 September many of them were denuded to such an extent as almost to 

 resemble so many bare stakes with flowers stuck on. Many would 

 naturally suppose, as I did, that this operation was of itself enough to 

 cause death, and that the cure, if not worse, was at all events equally 

 as bad as the disease. There is no doubt it weakens them, but I fed 

 well, and in the end the flowers, although perhaps a little smaller, were 

 as fine as ever they had been before — at least I could detect very 

 little difference ; and, in fact, with the exception of a very few, my 

 blooms for exhibition last year were taken from those diseased plants, 

 and the prize ticket proved what they were. Still continuing my ex- 

 periment, I had them lifted last autumn and transferred to a different 

 position and planted in pits filled with a specially prepared compost, 

 the ground previously having been trenched and manured. The result 

 this year promises to be quite satisfactory, and so far as disease is 

 concerned, not a single speck has yet made its appearance, and the 

 growth is something wonderful, so that I am in hopes that it is possible 

 to prevent the disease spreading, if not altogether to cure it and stamp 

 it out, without sacrificing the plants. Mr Brotherston mentions the 

 fact of the fungus being quite common on the Mallow, and this should 

 be a warning to Hollyhock growers, as it seems to be at home on this 

 plant, and ought to be carefully watched. We have no Mallows nearer 

 than a mile, and on the ground of a different proprietor; but what does 

 Mr B. think of the common Groundsel, which is often entirely covered 

 by a similar fungus, but whether identical with that on the Hollyhock 

 or Mallow, I cannot say. Robert Stevens. 



