STOCK. 353 



in French, girqflce de Mahon : it is an annual plant, too 

 well known to need description. The seeds of this may 

 be sown at two or three several times, to obtain a longer 

 succession of flowers ; in autumn, and in March, April, or 

 May. It does not rise above six inches high ; but, as it 

 branches, three or four seeds will be enough for a middle- 

 sized pot. 



The kind commonly called the Queen's Stock-gilliflower 

 — in French, girqfite des jar dins [Garden Stock] — varies in 

 colour from a pale to a deep red, and is sometimes va- 

 riegated ; but the bright red is most esteemed. As this 

 branches very much, one seed only must be sown in a pot: 

 this should be done in May ; water should be given every 

 evening ; and, during the heat of the day, the pots should 

 be shaded, to prevent the earth from drying too fast. They 

 must be protected from frost during the winter, either 

 by removing them into the house, or covering them with 

 oak-leaves. The poorer the soil in which they are planted 

 the better they will bear the cold. The following May 

 they will flower, which they often continue to do all the 

 summer, and probably many of the flowers will come out 

 double. In autumn, after they have blown, they usually 

 perish ; but when they are in a very poor soil, or are grow- 

 ing among rubbish, they will often last tv.^o or three years. 



The Brompton — in French, girqfite a tige — and the 

 White Stock, are varieties of this kind ; the latter will 

 sometimes live three or four years. This species is a na- 

 tive of the coast of Spain, Greece, Italy, Candia, and the 

 isles adjacent. 



The Stock-gilHflower has been long estabhshed in the 

 English gardens, and is indeed a native of the cliffs by the 

 sea-side. The old English name of Gilliflower, which 

 is now almost lost in the prefix, Stock, is corrupted from 

 the French girqflicr. Chaucer writes it Gylofre ; but, by 



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