426 ALTERNANTHERA. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



percentage will die if replanted when 

 still young. 



When grown in masses in this way 

 they are very beautiful, as every stem 

 furnishes a large number of flowers, 

 varying much in their colour markings. 

 While growing and blooming they should 

 have occasional watering, otherwise they 

 get too dry, and ripen off prematurely. 

 A good mulching of old Mushroom dung 

 or of leaf soil is a great assistance while 

 in bloom. When going out of flower 

 carefully remo\e the seed-heads, other- 

 wise the plants are apt to become ex- 

 hausted, as almost every flower sets. In 

 removing the pods, do not shorten the 

 stems or reduce the leaves in any way, 

 as all are needed to ripen the tubers and 

 form fresh crowns for the following year. 

 Anyone having deep light sandy soil rest- 

 ing on a dry bottom may grow these 

 beautiful flowering plants without prepar- 

 ation ; all that is necessary being to pick 

 out a well-sheltered spot, and to give the 

 surface a slight mulching on the approach 

 of severe weather. No trouble is involved 

 in staking and tying, for the stems are 

 strong enough to support themselves, 

 unless in very exposed situations. They 

 last long when cut. 



The species in cultivation are 



A. aurantiaca {A. aurea). — A vigorous 

 growing Chilian kind, 2 ft. to 4 ft. high, 

 flowering in summer and autumn. The 

 flowers are large, orange yellow, streaked 

 with red, and umbels of from 10 to 15 

 blooms terminating the stems. 



A. brasiliensis.— A distinct kind with 

 red and green flowers, and dwarfer than 

 the preceding. Known also as A. psit- 

 lacina. 



A. chilensis.— A quite hardy kind from 

 Chili, with many varieties that give a wide 

 range of colours from almost white to 

 deep orange and red. 



A. Pelegrina. — Not so tall or robust 

 as the last ; but the flowers are larger, 

 whitish, and beautifully streaked and 

 veined with purple. There are several 

 varieties, including a white one {A. p. 

 nlbn) which requires protection. When 

 well grown it is a fine pot plant, compact, 

 and crowned with almost pure white 

 flowers. It is called. the Lily of the Incas. 

 A. pe7-egrina is synonymous. 



Other good kinds are the hardy 

 variable-coloured A. versicolor {A. peru- 

 via7ja) and St. Martin's flower {A. pul- 

 chra) ; this, however, requiring protec- 

 tion. 



ALTERNANTHERA {Joy-Weed).— 

 Little tropical weeds of the Amaranthus 

 order, which, owing to their colour, have 



been used in our gardens far beyond 

 their merits. These tender plants are 

 natives of Brazil, and can be used 

 only in the more fa\oured parts of the 

 country. The varieties range in colour 

 of foliage from dull purple to bad yellow, 

 and why they are used in flower gardens 

 is a question to which no good answer can 

 be given. 



ALTH^A {Hollyhock).— lixtnmal or 

 perennial plants of the Mallow family 

 consisting chiefly of coarse-growing plants. 

 Some, such as A. rosea., from which the 

 Hollyhock has sprung, are showy garden 

 flowers. The other wild species are 

 generally characterised by great vigour, 

 and hence are not very suitable for the 

 choice flower garden. They thrive in 

 almost any situation or soil. Among them 

 A. anneniaca, officinalis, narbo7iensis, 

 ca7inabi7ta, fici folia, Hildebra7tdti hirsuta, 

 caribcsa, F7-olovia7ia syriacus,lavaterafolia 

 are the best — mostly natives of S. Europe 

 and the East, flowering in summer and 

 autumn. 



A. rosea {Hollyhock).— One: of the 

 noblest of hardy plants, and there are 

 many positions in almost all gardens where 

 it would add to the general effect. For 

 breaking up ugly lines of shrubs or walls, 

 and for forming back-grounds, its tall 

 column-like growth is well fitted. So, too, 

 it is valuable for bold and stately eflfects 

 among or near flower beds. Cottage bee- 

 keepers would do well to grow a few 

 Hollyhocks, for bees are fond of their 

 flowers. 



Culture. — Deep cultivation, much 

 manure, frequent waterings in dry weather, 

 with occasional soakings of liquid manure, 

 will secure fine spikes and flowers. Holly- 

 hocks require good garden soil, trenched 

 to the depth of 2 ft. A wet soil is good 

 in summer, but injurious in winter, and to 

 pre\'ent surface wet from injuring old 

 plants left in the open ground remove the 

 mould round their necks, filling up with 

 about 6 in. of white sand. This will pre- 

 serve the crowns of the plants. It is best, 

 howe\er, if fine flowers are desired, to 

 plant young plants every year, as one 

 would Dahlias, putting them 3 ft. apart 

 in rows at least 4 ft. apart ; or if grouped 

 in beds, not less than 3 ft. apart. In May 

 or June, when the spikes have grown i ft. 

 high, thin them out according to the 

 strength of the plant ; if well established 

 aud strong, leaving four spikes, and if 

 weak two or three. When for exhibition, 

 leave only one spike, and to get fine 

 blooms cut off the side shoots, thin the 

 flower buds if crowded together, and 

 remove the top of the spike, according to 



