CHAP. IV. ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 291 



Althaea. 



A. rosea HOLLYHOCK. By nature a perennial, the Hollyhock 

 can only be cultivated satisfactorily in this country as an annual. 

 The seed should be sown in October in the open ground, for 

 young plants raised in gumlahs are not only very apt to damp 

 off, but suffer much also from transplanting. The best plan is to 

 have some bed of good light rich soil, set apart exclusively for 

 this plant. In poor soil it makes no growth and produces no 

 flowers. The best flowers, however, that I have ever seen the 

 Hollyhock produce in this country have invariably been very 

 poor, single, and of one colour only, pale pink. 



Callirhoe. 



C. digitata. A most delightful annual ; thrives well in gardens 

 about Calcutta, and bears, in great profusion, moderate-sized, 

 bright pink blossoms : sow the seed (which may be saved from 

 year to year) in October, and put out the plants, where wanted, 

 three in a patch. 



Hibiscus. 



1. Africanus Syn. Trionum An annual of trailing growth ; 

 bears beautiful cream-coloured flowers with deep puce-coloured 

 eye ; likes a light sandy soil ; sow in October : the plants come 

 early into blossom, and produce seed abundantly, which should 

 be saved from year to year. 2. H. calisureus. A plant of more 

 erect growth, and with flowers somewhat larger than those of 

 the preceding, otherwise very similar. 



3. H. Lindleyi. A large shrub-like plant, bears during the 

 Rain season, in constant succession, a profusion of large, rich 

 crimson, very showy blossoms ; sow the seed in July. 



4. H. giganteus. A very large plant, producing during the 

 Rains great, showy, primrose-coloured flowers of the size of a 

 cheese-plate, with puce-coloured centre. 



SAPINDACE^E. 



Cardiospermum. 



C. Halicacabum HEART-SEED BALLOON-VINE. A creeping 

 plant, a common weed of this country ; produces insignificant 



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