AngUBt 20, 1868. ) 



JODBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



125 



THE HOLLYHOCK, AND ITS CULTURE. 



' OR the summer and autumn decoration of the 

 flower garden Plollyhocks are of great value, 

 and prove very efl'ective ; no garden of any 

 pretensions ought to be without a collection 

 of select varieties. The Hollyhock has been 

 in our gardens for nearly three hundred 

 years, having been introduced from Cliina 

 in 157.'i. Many years, I may say centuries, 

 it was treated as a biennial, and no pains 

 were taken to perpetuate the improvements 

 or variations that were produced, excepting by saving of 

 seed and sowing it, cross-breeding being then unknown. 

 The result was very little variation, and but small improve- 

 ment on the flower of the original Althaea rosea, a biennial, 

 in colour of a bright rose. Since the late Mr. Barron, of 

 Saflron Walden, attempted the improvement of the flower, 

 the Hollyhock rapidly advanced toward the florist's stan- 

 dard of excellence. So rapid, indeed, was the transforma- 

 tion that the improvements were soon in the hands of Mr. 

 Chater and Mr. IJircham, both of whom eff'ected further va- 

 riations and improvements, and since then Mr. Roake, Mr. 

 W. Paul, and others have so advanced the flower, that it 

 claims a place at the exhibition table. To the late Mr. 

 Barron, however, we owe all our improvements in Holly- 

 hocks ; he was the first to raise and perpetuate variations 

 in colour, likewise improvements in the form and substance 

 of the flower. It was he who first perpetuated the im- 

 proved varieties by division and cuttings. In his time, no 

 doubt, the Hollyhock survived, as it does now, several 

 winters in dry well-drained sandy soils ; but it would seem, 

 from propagation being confined to seed-sowing, that the 

 idea of the Hollyhock being a perennial had not occurred 

 to its cultivators ; to liim. therefore, we must give the credit 

 of first making the Hollyhock perennial. 



Although the Hollyhock is perennial when propagated 

 by cuttings and other modes, also when raised from seed 

 in some soils, yet those possessing a fine selection, acting 

 on that principle in the same sense as with most other 

 perennials, will in the course of a few years lose their best 

 varieties, and find their collection fast disappearing. The 

 system of planting a border, and allowing it to remain so 

 for years, does not apply to Hollyhocks. In that or some 

 other unaccountable manner many gardens once gay with 

 this noble flower are so no longer. Perhaps the present, 

 I may say late, rage for dwarf plants in flower gardens has 

 driven this and other equally fine summer and autumn 

 flowers beyond the flower-garden boundary, where they 

 may perchance still hold a place. At exhibitions, too, no 

 very great impression is produced by a stand of spikes or 

 blooms of Hollyhocks, for these afford no just idea of the 

 plant's stateliness of growth and splendid display of bloom 

 at home. Those according the Hollyhock a good situation, 

 though outside the flower-garden boundary, where, in good 

 SOU and with proper care, it grows so tail and blooms so 

 well, may see the plant when at its best ; but this is rare, 

 for they do not care to show to visitors anytliing beyond 

 the best part of the grounds, to which it is seldom admitted. 

 No. 386.— Vol. XV., New Sebies. 



and when it is seen by the proprietor or liis friends it is 

 often when the plant is at its worst, when a high wind or 

 some accident has brought them past the Hollyhocks. 



Some object to the Hollyhock in flower gardens on 

 account of its height, and there is good reason for doing 

 so, if in a garden of dwarf plants it is placed in front of 

 these, instead of the tall plants at back and the dwarf in 

 front ; but unquestionably it is a noble plant at the back 

 of borders, whetlior wide'or narrow, by itself or in beds, 

 and t?,e grandest of all for slirubbery borders, whilst it 

 cannot be too extensively cultivated as a flower. A garden 

 without a collection of select Hollyhocka is destitute of 

 one great attraction. 



"Varieties. — The following are some of the most use- 

 ful :— 



Alexander Shearer, crimson. 

 Advancer, shaded rose. 

 Black Prince, black. 

 Countess Russell, rosy peach. 

 Comet, purplish crimson. 

 Competitor, deep purple. 

 Decision, salmon flesh, shaded 



with rose. 

 Klectra, yellow, chocolate base. 

 Fearless Improved, creamy buff. 

 Gem of Yellows Improved, deep 



yellow. 

 Hebe, creamy flesh, peach centre. 

 Hon. Mrs. Ashley, bright peach. 

 Memnon, bright crimson. 



Mrs. Roake, blush. 



Mrs. Chater, carmine, tinted rose. 



Mr. Roake, pale yellow. 



Lady Braybrooke, lemon, tinted 



fawn. 

 Lady Middleton, rosy salmsn. 

 Lilac Model, shaded lilac. 

 Pericles, chrome yellow. 

 Queen of Whites, white. 

 Reine Blanche, white. 

 Rev. H. Dombrain, rosy salmon. 

 Syrian Prince, purple. 

 Walden Masterpiece, gold and 



scarlet. 

 Warrior, bright crimson. 



PnopAGATioN.— Hollyhocks are propagated by seed in 

 order to raise new varieties, or where plants are required 

 for extensive planting in borders]; also by cuttings, divi- 

 sion, and eyes. 



Propagation from seed is only time, labour, and ground 

 lost, unless the seed has been carefully saved, and from 

 the finer sorts only. The seed may be sown as early as 

 March, and from that time to July or August. I prefer 

 to sow in ,June, and not later than July. Spring-sown 

 plants become so strong by autumn that much room is 

 taken up in wintering them, and except for being planted 

 out in autumn, or remaining, transplanted, in the bed to 

 bloom, are not desirable. I may, however, treat of sowing 

 the seed in spring, in summer, and as soon as ripe. 



Sowing in spring may take place at the end of March or 

 early in April. An open situation out of doors should be 

 chosen, and the ground well dug and pulverised, working 

 in a liberal dressing of leaf mould. The soil most suitable 

 is a sandy loam ; if heavy, it may be improved by a free 

 admixture of sharp sand. The surface having been made 

 fine, place seeds about an inch apart, and cover them with 

 fine soU. All weeds must be removed, and in June the 

 plants will be fit to turn-out in beds. Plant in beds 4 feet 

 wide, five rows in a bed, and t)ie plants li inches from each 

 otlier in the rows. If the weather be diy, give the seed 

 bed a good soaking before taking up the seedlings, which 

 must be done with a fork. The bed for planting ought to 

 be well and deeply dug, adding leaf mould or rotten manure 

 liberally. Water well at planting ; and if dry and hot, 

 shade with mats over hoops for a few days until the plants 

 recover. Occasional waterings will need to be given in dry 



No. 1038.- Vol. XL., Old SEEirs. 



