114 



A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNIALS 



trees and shrubs. They are also used for cut flowers, but wilt very 

 rapidly. 



Culture. They require a deeply dug, well-drained soil made up 

 of equal portions of good loam and leafmold. Well decayed manure is 

 good also to mix in the soil. They should be planted in a warm place 

 and given plenty of water during dry weather. 



Propagation. As the seeds ripen in August they should be sown 

 in light soil and the seedhngs grown in coldframes during the Winter. 

 The ground should be well prepared and the plants put in just as early 

 as the ground can be worked. Hollyhocks self-sow very rapidly. 



Diseases. Hollyhocks, where grown for a number of years in 

 the same place, are troubled with a rust. It causes little trouble, 

 however, among vigorous young plants. A mixture of lime and sul- 

 phur blown under the leaves wiU prevent any serious outbreak. 

 Bordeaux mixture is also effective. Badly infested plants should be 

 dug and burned. Keep down the growth of the Mallow-like weeds. 

 Much of the trouble with the rust is eliminated if the seed is sown 

 as advised in August instead of Spring. 



Left, Coral Bells or Heuchera, slender spikes of bright bells for the border or 

 rockery; right, Blue Flax or Linum, airy, dancing, blue flowers. 



