306 AN HOUR WITH THE HOLLYHOCK. 



be attained by drawing the soil around them when dry, 

 and pressing them gently back with the foot. 



It is worthy of remark that the season of flowering may 

 be greatly prolonged by striking and transplanting at diffe- 

 rent seasons. There is a great difference in the period of 

 flowering between plants removed early in autumn and 

 late in spring ; and of this we may avail ourselves to 

 lengthen the succession or to obtain a full bloom early or 

 late, as particular circumstances may require. Early- 

 rooted cuttings and old plants may be induced to bloom 

 in July, and late-rooted cuttings and spring-sown seedlings 

 in November. Hence there will be no difficulty in obtain- 

 ing a supply of flowers for four successive months. This 

 is a feature in the Hollyhock well worth noticing. 



As is well known, many of our noble mansions are 

 little visited by their proprietors except in the autumn 

 and winter months, and every effort is required to make 

 the garden as attractive as possible at those seasons. In 

 such cases the Hollyhock is an indispensable flower, and 

 should be planted in masses of colour, especially in those 

 situations where seen from the principal walks or windows 

 of the mansion. 



Every flower has its enemies. The Dahlia has to 

 battle with the thrip and earwig ; the Pink and Carnation 

 require protection from the wire-worm ; the enemies of the 

 Rose are " legion ;" and the Hollyhock suffers from the 

 slug. It is in winter and early spring that these creatures 

 feast on the leaves with most relish ; and as a preference 

 is shown to the youngest the loss is all the greater, for 

 they are most actively engaged in administering to the 

 wants of the plants. Happily for us our enemy is not 

 remarkable for agility. Slug-traps are numerous and well 

 known to all who possess a garden. A pair of keen eyes, 

 aided by a bright light in the morning or evening during 

 moist weather, proves a most effective method of checking 

 their ravages. A less troublesome one is perhaps to strew 

 a few cabbage leaves around the plants, beneath these the 



