hock is 



HOLLYHOCK, (Althea rosea,) Nat. Ord. Malvcueee. 



Every one knows the old Hollyhock, that all the children have played with, and that was so 

 interesting and useful as a trap for bees, when you and I, dear 

 reader, were young. Then it grew tall enough almost for a flag 

 staff, with here and there a single flower about the shape, and half 

 as large as a tea-cup, and every one of them, not appropriated to 

 other uses, turned into a cheese about as big as a cent, which the 

 girls thought made splendid necklaces. This was the old Holly- 

 hock not very pretty, not very graceful and yet there were 

 places where the Hollyhock of by-gone days looked well ; at 

 least we thought so once, and we have no desire to correct that 

 opinion. But look from the picture we have drawn to the one 

 made by our engraver. Here we have a stately flower, and one 

 showing as much grace as the finest architectural column the 

 skill of man ever devised. No Rip Van Winkle, just awakened 

 from a forty years' sleep, would recognize the modern Hollyhock 

 as akin to any flower he had ever before beheld. Indeed, when 

 made up in bouquets, pretty good judges are often at fault. A 

 good, double, clear, white Hollyhock is a very good substitute for 

 a Camellia or a white Rose, as a center of a bouquet. I do not 

 now think of one as good, except the double white Balsam. In 

 situations suitable for tall flowers, we know of nothing better than 

 the Hollyhock ; and yet the improved varieties do not grow very 

 high, from three to four feet being about the average. The Holly- 

 plants are obtained from seed and by dividing the roots. 



HONESTY, (Lunaria,) Nat. Ord. Crucifera:. 

 Lunaria biennis is what is known as Honesty in all our gardens, and by all florists. There 



are a good many varieties, all, we think, native of Southern and 



Central Europe, and all tall-growing biennials and perennials. 



Honesty, the cultivated variety, bears racemes of pretty, single, 



purple flowers, and our engraving shows the general habit of the 



plant, as well as the size and form of the flower, a single specimen 



of which we give. The pod which contains the seeds is the most 



interesting to many growers, and indeed the plant perhaps is 



cultivated mainly for its peculiar seed-pouches, which are very 



large, perhaps two inches in length by one in width, very 



thin, and silvery white when ripe. These silvery pouches are 



curious and pretty, and are grown for winter ornaments, for which 



use they are very desirable. We have endeavored to show the , 



appearance of these curious pods, each raceme of flowers produc- 1 



ing about such a cluster as shown in the engraving. The plant is very hardy ; two feet in height. 

 IPOMOPSIS, Xat. Ord. Poletnoniacea. 



The Ipomopsis are very beautiful plants, 

 with long, elegant spikes of rich orange 

 and scarlet flowers, excellent for conser- 

 vatory and out-door decoration. The foli- 

 age is very fine, like that of the Cypress 

 Vine, giving great beauty to the plant, 

 which grows usually from three to four feet 

 in height, and keeps in flower a long tune. 

 The plant is a little difficult to keep over 

 the winter, but generally proves quite 

 hardy in a dry place. A wet situation is 

 sure to destroy them in winter, causing 



decay at the surface of the ground. With tbi- e\-:eption, there are few plants of easier culture. 



103 



