Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



103 



planted out in rich, moist, but well-drained soil, Ten-week Stocks flower 

 freely during the summer months, coming into bloom by the middle or end 

 of June, and are cut for market. 



The "Intermediate" Stocks are also derived from the same parent 

 (Matthiola annua) as the Ten-week Stock, and are particularly valuable 

 for their trusses of scarlet, white, or purple flowers early in the year. 

 The seeds are sown in July and August, and the plants may be wintered 

 in cold frames, or planted out on warm sheltered borders. 



The "EAST LOTHIAN" Stock is a form of the Intermediate, and has 

 varieties with white, purple, and crimson flowers which appear in the 

 autumn after the Ten -week 

 Stocks are over. The seeds 

 are sown in March or April 

 to produce flowering plants at 

 this period. 



The " QUEEN" Stocks, and 

 the Wallflower-leaved Stocks 

 (with green shining leaves) and 

 the Brompton Stocks, are said 

 to be derived from Matthiola 

 incana, a biennial from South- 

 ern Europe, the Canary Islands, 

 &c. Of the Queen Stocks 

 there are purple, scarlet, rose, 

 and white varieties, as in the 

 Brompton Stocks, and about 

 60 per cent produce double 

 flowers. The seeds are sown 

 in June or July in shallow 

 boxes or frames, and the young 

 plants are wintered in cold 

 frames in some places, or 

 planted in warm, sheltered borders in favourable localities. They are 

 chiefly valuable for cut flowers, and choice and well-grown samples often 

 realize remunerative prices. 



Stokesia cyanea. A fine North American perennial, 2 ft. high, with 

 lance-shaped leaves and large lavender-blue flowers in autumn; the variety 

 alba has white flowers. Likes well-manured loamy soil, and may be 

 increased by slips and seeds. Some years ago the flowers of this plant 

 were popular for florists' work in autumn. 



Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The common Sunflower is too coarse 

 a plant for horticultural purposes, although useful enough for producing 

 supplies of valuable seed for agricultural and other purposes. There are, 

 however, many choice varieties, some miniature forms (fig. 247) of which 

 are only 2-3 ft. high, which produce handsome blossoms varying in colour 

 from soft primrose to deep golden yellow with a dark centre. Some good 



Fig. 246. Ten -week Stock 



