STOCK. 409 



STOCK. 



MATTHIOLA. 



CRUCIFERJ2. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA. 



Stock-gilliflower. French, giroflee ; violier. Italian, viola ; leucoio. 



THE Virginia Stock is improperly so called : its native 

 place is on the coast of the Mediterranean, and it is called 

 in French, giroflte de Mahon : it is an annual plant, too 

 well known to need description. The seeds of this may 

 be sown at two or three several times, to obtain a longer 

 succession of flowers ; in autumn, and in March, April, or 

 May. It does not rise above six inches high ; but, as it 

 branches, three or four seeds will be enough for a middle- 

 sized pot. 



The kind commonly called the Queen's Stock-gilliflower 

 in French, giro/Ice des jar dins [Garden Stock] varies in 

 colour from a pale to a deep red, and is sometimes va- 

 riegated ; but the bright red is most esteemed. As this 

 branches very much, one seed only must be sown in a pot : 

 this should be done in May ; water should be given every 

 evening ; and, during the heat of the day, the pots should 

 be shaded, to prevent the earth from drying too fast. They 

 must be protected from frost during the winter, either 

 by removing them into the house, or covering them with 

 oak-leaves. The poorer the soil in which they are planted 

 the better they will bear the cold. The following May 

 they will flower, which they often continue to do all the 

 summer, and probably many of the flowers will come out 

 double. In autumn, after they have blown, they usually 

 perish ; but when they are in a very poor soil, or are 

 growing among rubbish, they will often last two or three 

 years. 



