22 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



were such delightful flowers as double Rockets to pass out of existence. 

 We have to deplore the loss to the world of several favourites which 

 I remember long, long ago. I may mention the white Hepatica and the 

 double white Primrose." 



Stocks. Stocks are amongst the most popular of flowers, and no 

 wonder, when their beautiful colour and delicious fragrance are remem- 

 bered. Moreover, they are of easy culture, so that amateurs can grow 

 them to perfection. Planted in beds, such choice colours as scarlet, 

 white, rose, and purple, are very telling, and borders, composed of half- 

 a-dozen or more distinct colours, are also charming, and last in full 

 beauty for a long period. 



The Ten- Week Stock is the most popular, and is quite easy to grow. 

 The seed may be sown at any time from February to May, March being 

 the best month. Sow in shallow boxes or pans, in a compost of light 

 loamy soil, leaf-mould, and silver sand, covering the seed lightly, and 

 making the surface firm and level. Sprinkle with water from a fine 

 rosed can, and stand the boxes or pans in a warm moist house or frame. 

 A temperature of 55 deg. is suitable. When the seedlings appear admit 

 air liberally but cautiously, and water them carefully, as if kept too 

 wet they will damp off. When the young plants can be handled, prick 

 them out into other boxes and place them in a sunny frame, shading them 

 from bright sunshine, giving them as much air as the state of the weather 

 will allow, and keeping the soil comfortably moist. Thus treated they 

 will grow quickly and strongly, and will be ready for planting out in 

 open beds or borders early in May. 



Stocks require good rich soil, which should be made firm by treading, 

 and the seedlings should be planted nine inches apart, and the soil pressed 

 firmly round the roots. In planting amateurs often err in selecting only 

 the tallest and strongest plants, and discarding the dwarfer ones. The 

 latter generally have the most fibrous roots, and as a rule produce a far 

 greater percentage of double flowers than the former. After planting, 

 mulch between them with very short stable litter or old mushroom bed 

 manure, and well soak the ground with water. The mulching will keep 

 the roots cool and moist in hot dry weather, and this is of the greatest 

 importance. When in active growth water them, say, once in ten days 

 with weak manure water, or sprinkle a little artificial manure on the sur- 

 face and water it in. For a late autumn flowering batch seed may be 

 sown in a warm frame in the middle of April. Sow the seed thinly, 

 thin out the young plants freely, and encourage a rapid and vigorous 

 growth by a liberal supply of moisture both at the roots and in the 

 atmosphere. 



East Lothian Stocks are very beautiful, and perhaps the most fra- 

 grant of all. They require rich soil and good cultivation, but are ex- 

 tremely hardy. Seed for the earliest batch of plants should be sown under 

 a hand-light or in a frame in a partially shaded portion. Sow very thinly, 

 and thin the young plants out to two inches apart when large enough. 

 Keep them well-watered and aired, and when the second pair of rough 

 leaves are formed pot them into small pots in good loamy soil, a little 

 well-rotted manure, and some coarse sand. Stand them on ashes in a 



