Brompton and Ten-week Stocks. 289 



these there are varieties of all shades, from the purest white to 

 the deepest purple, and also spotted, edged, and variegated 

 kinds. To German gaixleners and amateurs we are indebted for 

 the improvement of this fine tribe. 



Seeds of the ten-week should be sown at different periods, as 

 the plants are wanted to bloom in succession. Some English 

 cultivators make five or six sowings ; but three, or four at the 

 most, are sufficient to ensure a good succession of flowers : 

 these may be made in February, April, June and August. The 

 sowing in the two former months should be made in pots in the hot- 

 bed ; the two latter do equally as well in the open border. All 

 that is necessary in February is, to keep the plants from drawing 

 up weak, by giving plenty of air : in April there will be no dan- 

 ger. The June and August sowings may be made in the same 

 manner as recommended for the Brompton stock. As soon as 

 the plants have made four or five leaves, transplant them care- 

 fully into number one pots, *in which they may be kept through 

 the winter : observe the same care in regard to shade, water, 

 &c., as recommended for the Brompton. By thus putting them 

 in small pots, a great quantity of plants can be kept in a little 

 space. Early in February repot those wanted to bloom early, 

 into number threes, in a soil composed of three quarters light 

 sandy loam and one quarter well decomposed manure. Those 

 not repotted may be turned into the border as soon as the 

 weather will permit. By this method the plants will be strong 

 and bushy, with numerous spikes of handsome flowers. 



If the plants are sheltered in frames, care should be given that 

 it is not too wet, as they would be hkely to damp off". The 

 bottom of it should be made dry, and the plants set on boards. A 

 green-house is not so good a place for them as in a frame, but 

 they do very well in the former. 



There are a number of varieties of the ten-week stock, and 

 also the Brompton, called the wall-leaved ; that is, with foliage 

 hke the wall flower. They are extremely beautiful, and should 

 not be forgotten in a collection. The German catalogue enume- 

 rates upwards of twenty of them. 



We are anxious to see the stock cultivated to greater perfec- 

 tion than it yet is ; but we know that many persons do not grow 

 them, only in the open garden, as they do not succeed in flower- 

 ing them well. We hope, therefore, these few hasty remarks 

 will tend to render their cultivation easy to every, admirer of this 

 fine family. 



We have spoken of the Brompton stock as perennial: perhaps 

 in this we may have erred ; most writers term it biennial, but 

 we have seen fine strong plants in elegant bloom, the sixth year 

 from the seed. If not strictly perennial, it is certainly more 

 than biennial. 



VOL. n. — MO. viii. 37 



