ALTHAA. 
110 
ALYSSUM. 
aud giving them plenty of heat and 
water during April and May, the 
time when their growth is most. 
rapid, and when, from the brittle- | 
ness of their shoots, and the tender- 
ness of their leaves, they require to 
be sheltered or shaded from the sun | 
and wind. The climbing species, 
A. acutifolia. L. et O., A. hirtélla, | 
Kunth, and A. salsélla, L., succeed | 
best, both in flowering and ripening 
seeds, when planted in the border 
of a conservatory, or in the front of 
a stove or greenhouse, close under 
the wall, with protection during se- 
vere weather. Several of the spe- 
cies from Mexico, Chili, and Peru | 
will live in the open air in similar | 
situations ; and the greater part of 
these will grow luxuriantly, and in 
fine seasons will flower freely, pro- | 
ducing flowers of a much darker 
colour than those which have been 
grown under glass, and they will 
even ripen seeds. ‘Those species | 
which have been found to succeed 
best in the open air, are A. pulchélla, | 
Sims, A. pelegrina, L., and A. ver- 
stcolor, R. et P. All the species 
are readily increased by parting the 
roots, or by seeds. 
Axtracona.—See CaraGana. 
Autiza.—-Malvacee.—The Holly 
hock.—Strong herbaceous plants, 
natives of the middle and south of 
Europe, and also of India and China, 
of which one species, A. rdsea, the 
common Hollyhock, is one of our) 
most splendid ornamental biennials. | 
lt grows to the height of from five to 
eight feet ; and there are varieties of | 
almost every colour, including white, 
and purple so deep as to be almost 
black. The flowers being large, 
and the stems erect, the plants have 
the best effeet when grown in rows 
at the back of a border; or when 
one or two are planted along with 
round-headed plants—for example, 
with the French Honeysuckle, the 
annual Chrysanthemums, or any of 
the Sweet Peas, if trained to form | 
a bush: but the Hollyhock produces 
its best effect when each plant rises 
by itself from a circular patch in a 
lawn. An avenue of Hollyhocks, 
without any other flowering plants, 
is also very grand and ornamental, 
especially if the background on each 
side of the avenue be a hedge of 
Laurel or some other evergreen 
shrub, The fine effect of the Holly- 
hock with such a background is 
nowhere better seen than at Drop- 
more. The seeds of Hollyhock, 
which is a biennial, should be sown 
in March; in April, when the plants 
come up, they should be thinned 
out and then suffered to remain till 
September, when they should be 
transplanted to the place where 
they are. to flower. As the Holly- 
hock requires a rich and strong soil, 
it will be advisable, if the general 
soil of the garden be not of that 
nature, to dig a pit two feet in di- 
ameter, and two feet deep, which 
| should be filled with equal parts of 
good strong loam, and thoroughly 
rotten dung, chopped up and well 
mixed together with the spade. 
When the pit is filled, the earth 
should be allowed a few days to ~ 
settle, and then filled up to the 
general level of the garden; after 
which the young Hollyhocks should 
be planted in it, singly, if the plants 
be very strong, and three together 
if they should be weak. When the 
flower-stem appears, it should be 
tied toa stake, if not strong enough 
to support itself. 
AttH#s Frutrex.—See Hinr's-: 
cus. 
_Aty'ssum. — Crucifere. — Mad- 
| wort.—Herbaceous plants, both per- 
ennial and annual, of low growth, 
and with showy flowers; chiefly 
natives of Europe. A. sazdtile, 
which grows about a foot high, and 
which produces its yellow flowers 
in April, is one of the most orna- 
mental of the perennial species, and 
is well adapted either for rockwork 
