35 



Stocks Empress Elizabeth. This variety closely re- 

 sembles the Brompton Stock but is more compact in growth, 

 it comes true to colour which is a rosy pink and a large 

 percentage of the plants bear double flowers, if the seed is 

 obtained from a reliable source. Sowing should take place 

 the first week in June, and the plants must be treated as 

 advised below for Wallflowers up to the middle of 

 October, when the Stock plants must be potted and kept in 

 cold frames for the winter in the midland and northern 

 districts ; south of London they would be safe in the beds 

 in ordinary winters. They may be planted out from the 

 frames about the end of February ; some of them will be in 

 flower before then, but they last well. 



Wallflowers. The single varieties and double German are 

 always raised from seed, that of Phoenix and Earliest- of -all 

 being sown in the first week in May, as these varieties flower in 

 the autumn, and throughout the winter if it is a mild one. The 

 other varieties should be sown in the first week of June. If the 

 weather is dry the drills should be soaked with water before the 

 seed is sown, and the seed beds may require more water at in- 

 tervals until the time comes for transplanting. I generally put 

 them out about the last week in July, choosing a showery time 

 for the operation, as they suffer from hot sunshine when moved 

 young ; they soon grow into nice bushy plants and are allowed 

 six inches between the plants and one foot between the rows. 

 About the middle of September or as soon as showery 

 weather comes after that, the plants are partially lifted by 

 pushing a fork down on one side of the plants and depressing 

 the handle a little, which breaks the main roots, and causes more 



