144 JULY. 



Observations on some of the Plants now in Flower. 



HOLLYHOCKS. 



" How high his haughty honor holds his head." 



Hollyhocks are too tall, and require too much 

 space for any place but the front of a shrubbery or 

 a spacious border. They are, however, ornamental 

 and showy, and of varied hues. Bees are said to 

 be especially fond of them. 



" And from the nectaries of Hollyhocks 

 The humble bee, e'en till he faints, will sip." 



PERENNIAL LARKSPUR, 



Or Delphinum grandiflorum, is a superb peren- 

 nial Larkspur bearing spikes of brilliant dark-blue 

 double flowers, with a purplish tinge. No other 

 flower presents a blue of equal richness and splen- 

 dor. This plant, which is held in high estimation, 

 is a native of Siberia, and of easy culture, requiring 

 little more than common care to produce its superb 

 blossoms in luxuriance. After flowering, it dies 

 to the root, which should be protected during the 

 winter season from too much wet, and particularly 

 guarded from slugs and snails, as they are very 

 destructive to it, both at this season and in spring ; 

 it is increased by dividing the roots either in au- 

 tumn or early in spring. This plant will not grow 

 either in or near a town, the smoke quickly destroy- 



