320 AN HOUR WITH THE HOLLYHOCK. 



the entire exclusion of single flowers will not prevent many 

 amateurs from entering the list as competitors. To 

 exhibit single flowers does little damage to the garden at 

 home, and they are easily conveyed to the place cf 

 exhibition. To exhibit spikes requires too great a sacri- 

 fice where a few plants only are grown ; and moreover, 

 they form, however closely stowed away, a somewhat 

 cumbrous package. We know that many amateurs derive 

 as much pleasure from the gratification they afford others 

 by their pursuit, as in marking the brilliancy of colour and 

 symmetry of form, or inhaling the sweets of their favourite 

 flowers. The most emulous of such would pause ere he 

 cut seven spikes of his finest kinds from a limited collec- 

 tion. He could not reconcile himself to behold tarnished 

 in a day what would have given pleasure for a lengthened 

 period had the spikes been allowed to remain on the 

 plants. We think, then, there should be two classes, one 

 for spikes and one for single flowers. Make the former 

 the more valuable prize, as it deserves to be, but do not 

 exclude the latter. 



The spikes exhibited usually vary in height from two 

 to four feet. The flowers near the base of the stem are 

 generally the finest (although this depends in some 

 measure on the state of the weather in which they are 

 formed and expanded), and consequently the aim should 

 be to preserve such. To this end all lateral flower-spikes 

 should be destroyed, and the top cut off the main about 

 four feet from the lowest bud, at tJie time this expands, 

 that the flowers may close over the top and the spike look 

 complete. This, which is called " crowning " the spikes, is 

 most essential when cultivating for exhibition. It is 

 an operation of some nicety ; not that it is difficult to 

 crown the spikes, but difficult so to manage them that they 

 are in perfection on a given day. Practice is the best 

 guide ; indeed the end can only be attained with certainty 

 by the best considered practice. By shading, the greater 

 part of the spike may be kept in a showable condition for 



