THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



213 



who remember the hollyhock of twenty years ago cannot fail to mark 

 how complete has been the success. Not only has it become even 

 more useful and effective for garden decoration, but it has received 

 a degree of elegance and symmetry from the hands of the cultivator 

 that has fitted it to take a position in company with the most distin- 

 guished of Flora's subjects. 



The hollyhock flowers naturally in August, but by a little 

 management the bloom may be prolonged, and continue from July 

 to November. Old plants that have bloomed the year before will 

 bloom the second year in July and August. Cuttings taken and 

 rooted, or seed sown out of doors the previous summer, will bloom 

 in August and September. Seed sown in pans as soon as ripe, and 

 wintered under glass, will bloom in October of the following year. 

 By using these three sorts of plants, a succession of flowers may be 

 kept up. If an early bloom only is required, old plants must be 

 planted ; if a late bloom, young plants and seedlings. 



In planting for effect, we would always recommend planting 

 three or more of the same sort close together in a group, choosing 

 the clearest and most distinct colours, and those which produce the 

 densest and broadest spikes. When growing for exhibition, the form 

 of the flower is of course the primary point for consideration, and 

 here it is usual to plant in lines three or four feet apart, that the 

 culture of the plants may be more carefully and more conveniently 

 attended to. There are some sorts which are alike suitable for 

 exhibition and garden decoration, but both objects can scarcely be 

 attained conjointly. But as to culture, the hollyhock is not particular 

 in regard to soil, it will grow and flourish almost everywhere. The 

 finest spikes we have yet seen were grown on a strong moist loam 

 that had been deep trenched, richly manured, watered in dry 

 weather, and well cultivated by frequent and deep hoeing. 



Cuttings of hollyhock, single eyes, taken in July and August, 

 and placed round pots in a cold frame, will root in a month, and 

 may be placed in single pots and stored in a cold frame through the 

 winter, repotting into larger pots in February, and planting out in 

 April. Seed should be saved from the best formed, the smoothest, 

 and most double varieties only, and to insure a fair crop of seed it is 

 necessary to pull the flowers from their stalks, so soon as the former 

 begin to decay. 



There are two seasons at which the seed may be sown — first, in 

 July, in the open ground, the seedlings to be transplanted or not, 

 according to the convenience of the cultivator ; and, secondly, in 

 October, in pans, to be potted into single pots in November, and kept 

 under glass till planted out in April. If the seedlings sown ia the 

 open ground are to be transplanted before flowering, October is the 

 best time, and next to that April. 



In planting out, whether from the ground or pots, a showery 

 day should be chosen, and after planting the stems should be sur- 

 rounded with a little stable manure. If the weather or soil be dry, 

 water copiously till the flowering declines. The hollyhock, with its 

 large surface of leaves and great perspiratory powers, consumes a 

 great quantity of water, especially at that period of its growth, in 



July. 



