298 AN HOUR WITH THE HOLLYHOCK. 



Plants bearing single flowers might have been expected 

 from seeds gathered in the fields ; whereas the latter were 

 probably selected from long-cultivated plants, whence the 

 issue would, as a consequence, be more varied, and more 

 highly organised. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that the Hollyhock is 

 not indigenous to Britain. Linnaeus assigns it to Siberia ; 

 but China is generally given as its native place. In the 

 south of China it is found only in a cultivated state ; the 

 northern parts and Chinese Tartary are more correctly the 

 districts it naturally adorns. It does not appear to 

 extend to Japan ; for in Thunberg's " Flora Japonica" it is 

 spoken of thus : " Crescit ubique culta. Floret lunio lulio. 

 Variat floribus, albis, rubris, plenis et simplicibus" The 

 French ascribe it to Syria, and plants bearing yellow 

 flowers have been found wild among the rocks around 

 Kurreechane. 



We think, from the evidence afforded, we shall not 

 exceed the bounds of truth in claiming for our flower a 

 three-hundred years' naturalisation on British soil. We 

 can imagine how much it would be cherished on its first 

 introduction, though the flowers were but single and pro- 

 bably dingy in colour. It was a stately plant, tall, 

 majestic, and not without a share of rude massive 

 grandeur, which would well adapt it for the decoration 

 of early British gardens. As with most flowers of long 

 standing, we have no sources whence to draw the mate- 

 rials for a history of its early development. Such events 

 were not chronicled in the olden times ; and hence, for 

 want of facts, we must be content to suggest probabilities, 

 and drop the early links in the chain of History. Start- 

 ing from the period of its introduction, and allowing a 

 few generations to be raised successively from seed in an 

 improved soil, it is reasonable to suppose it would become 

 varied in colour, and increase in size and fulness as the 

 natural result of cultivation. This would likely obtain for 

 it an enlarged circle of admirers, which would give fresh 



