4 i8 ALTERNANTHERA. THE ENGLISH F LOWER GARDEN. 



ALTH.^A. 



growing Chilian kind, 2ft. to 4ft. high, 

 flowering in summer and autumn. The 

 flowers are large, orange yellow, streaked 

 with red, and umbels of from 10 to 15 

 blooms terminating the stems. 



A. brasiliensis. A distinct kind with 

 red and green flowers, and dwarfer than 

 the preceding. Known also as A. psit- 

 iacina. 



A. chilensis. A quite hardy kind from 

 Chili, with many varieties that give a wide 

 range of colours from almost white to 

 deep orange and red. 



A. Pelegrina. Not so tall or robust 

 as the last ; but the flowers are larger, 

 whitish, and beautifully streaked and 

 veined with purple. There are several 

 varieties, including a white one, (A. p. 

 alba] which requires protection. When 

 well grown it is a fine pot plant, compact, 

 and crowned with almost pure white 

 flowers. It is called the Lily of the Incas. 

 A. peregrina is synonymous. 



Other good kinds are the hardy 

 variable-coloured A. versicolor (A. peru- 

 mana) and St. Martin's flower (A. pul- 

 chra\ this, however, requiring protec- 

 tion. 



ALTERNANTHERA (Joy- Weed}. 

 Little tropical weeds of the Amaranthus 

 order, which, owing to their colour, have 

 been used in our gardens far beyond 

 their merits. These tender plants are 

 natives of Brazil, and can be used 

 only in the more favoured parts of the 

 country. The varieties range in colour 

 of foliage from dull purple to bad yellow, 

 and why they are used in flower gardens 

 is a question to which no good answer can 

 be given. 



ALTHJEA (Hollyhock}. Biennial or 

 perennial plants of the Mallow family 

 consisting chiefly of coarse-growing plants. 

 Some, such as A. rosea, from which the 

 Hollyhock has sprung, are showy garden 

 flowers. The other wild species are 

 generally characterised by great vigour, 

 and hence are not very suitable for the 

 choice flower garden. They thrive in 

 almost any situation or soil. Among them 

 A. armeniaca, officinalis, narbonensis, 

 cannabina, fici folia, Hildebrandti hirsuta, 

 caribcea, Froloviana syriacusjavatercefolia 

 are the best mostly natives of S. Europe 

 and the East, flowering in summer and 

 autumn. 



A. rosea (Hollyhock}. One of the 

 noblest of hardy plants, and there are 

 many positions in almost all gardens where 

 it would add to the general effect. For 

 breaking up ugly lines of shrubs or walls, 

 and for forming back-grounds, its tall 

 column-like growth is well fitted. So, too, 



it is valuable for bold and stately effects 

 among or near flower beds. Cottage bee- 

 keepers would do well to grow a few 

 Hollyhocks, for bees are fond of their 

 flowers. 



CULTURE. Deep cultivation, much 

 manure, frequent waterings in dry weather, 

 with occasional soakings of liquid manure, 



Althaea rosea (Double-flowered Hollyhock). 



will secure fine spikes and flowers. Holly- 

 hocks require good garden soil, trenched 

 to the depth of 2 ft. A wet soil is good 

 in summer, but injurious in winter, and to 

 prevent surface wet from injuring old 

 plants left in the open ground remove the 

 mould round their necks, filling up with 

 about 6 in. of white sand. This will pre- 

 serve the crowns of the plants. It is best, 



