BIENNIALS 39 



which though very good do not reach the excellence of the 

 blue. The height of Canterbury Bells is i -2 J ft. 



Hollyhock : This, too, is called by many a hardy 

 perennial, but it dies or becomes too weakly to be worth 

 having in the ground after its second or third year. If 

 it is sown very early it will just flower the first year. If 

 not sown till June, it will flower to a certain extent during 

 the following summer, but will reach its best in the summer 

 of the next year. Then it will die. Sometimes, however, 

 if it is in very good soil it will manage even a fourth year, 

 but that is unusual. 



The best results are obtained by sowing early in heat. 

 The plants should be hardened off and, after being pricked 

 out into boxes, planted out in the reserve border in very 

 rich soil. They should be urged on with water and weak 

 liquid manure during the summer, and lifted and planted 

 in frames for the winter. Then in February or March 

 plant out in the perennial border in very rich soil, and 

 stake as soon as they need it. Right through the summer 

 they should be fed with liquid manure, and watered 

 copiously, for they are thirsty subjects ; also it is advisable 

 to mulch them by putting a good layer of horse manure 

 around their roots. They require repeated ties as they 

 grow. 



Good named florists' varieties of the double and single 

 Hollyhocks are numerous, and there is a range of colour 

 yellow, dark red, pink, white, etc. to choose from. 



Catalogues give the height as 6 ft., but I have seen many 

 12 ft., and some few giants even taller. 



Honesty : This is a true biennial and very charming. 

 It may be planted in the mixed border, and should be given a 

 position which is not too sunny. It may also be planted in 

 old walls, and does well wherever it is. It succeeds in town 

 gardens, and in nearly every soil. When well grown, the 

 plants are covered with flowers, and when over should be 

 allowed to remain till the seeds ripen, for its large flat 

 silvery seed vessels look very uncommon. Seed should 

 be sown in June and July for blooming during the following 



