THE HOLLYHOCK. 841^ 



and the flowers close to each other on the stem. About the middle of 

 March, or not later than the first week in April, the seed-bed should 

 be prepared, four feet wide, with an alley on each side. The soil should 

 be rich and in good heart : such soil as would suit a cabbage will grow 

 the hollyhock in tolerable perfection. Trench the bed two feet deep, 

 tbrowmg the top spit to the bottom, and bringing the second spit to 

 the surface, if both are of the same character of loamy, somewhat 

 tenacious soil, breaking up the surface thoroughly. On this bed, raked 

 smooth, sow the seed so thickly as to come up an inch apart, and sift over the 

 seeds some rich dry soil, so as to cover them for about an inch. When they 

 come up and begin to grow, the weeds must be kept down, and vigorous 

 growth encouraged by watering in dry weather. In June the plants will bear 

 removal to a nursery-bed, prepared in the same manner as the seed-bed. If 

 the seedlings have been growing vigorously, the roots will be sti'ong, and' 

 must not be broken in taking up : this may be prevented by soaking the bed 

 thoroughly the night previous to removal, and lifting the plants cautiously with a 

 fork inserted under them, as in lifting potatoes. Plant them in the new bed six 

 inches apart each way, using a dibber, making a hole large enough to receive- 

 the roots, and pressing the earth round them by making another hole on each 

 side with the point of the dibber, watering the bed thoroughly when planted. 

 When dry and somewhat settled, rake the bed smooth, giving the same care as- 

 to weeding and watering when dry, as well as destroying slugs, earwigs, and 

 insects. In the autumn they will be strong plants, fit to put out where they 

 are to bloom. If they are intended to bloom in rows where they stand, every 

 other plant must now be removed, so as to leave them one foot apart all over the 

 bed ; here they may be supported by strong stakes placed at both ends of 

 each row, and a strong cord carried from one to the other, to which the 

 plants are to be tied. 



990. As they come into bloom, in the second yeai% every single flower which 

 does not exhibit some desirable character of habit or colour, should be throwni 

 away before they begin to ripen seed : the majority will be in this category. 

 Those selected for further experiment should be cut down to within three- 

 inches of the gi'ound, the earth round them stirred with a fork, to loosen 

 the soil and let in the air, having previously named or numbered them in 

 your book, and described the qualities for which they were selected. 



991. Chittings. — As soon as the first flowers of an old plant open suffici- 

 ently to judge of the flowering, the sui^erfluous side-branches having no flower- 

 buds may be taken off", with two or three joints and leaves. Cut the shoot 

 through with a clean cut, just under the lower joint, leaving the leaf entire ;. 

 cut it also at about two inches above the joint : cither joint will do, provided' 

 they have growing eyes, with a leaf and piece of ripened wood to support the 

 bud until roots are formed. These cuttings, planted in a light sandy soil, 

 placed under a hand-glass, and watered occasionally, and shaded from the- 

 sun, will require little further care except keeping clear of weeds and dead^ 

 leaves. When rooted, pot them off" in 60-sized pots, and put them in a cold- 

 frame where they can remain during the winter. In spring plant them out in 



