322 AN HOUR WITH THE HOLLYHOCK. 



deep ; a common lid, with shifting hinges, lock in front, 

 and handles at ends, complete the shell. The interior 

 fittings are trifling. About three inches from one end a 

 second end must be made with holes bored thus 



large enough to receive the lower end of the spike, which, 

 when placed there, must be tightly wedged, filling the 

 space between the two ends with wet moss. Now, at the 

 other end of the box a false end is necessary, formed of 

 three pieces, the lowermost fixed, the others moveable 

 at will, and made to slide up and down in a groove, with 

 holes corresponding to those in the opposite direction. 

 These holes should be bored on the exact line where two 

 pieces meet, so that when the centre piece is removed, the 

 half of each hole is withdrawn with it. In these holes drop 

 the small end of the spikes, surrounding the part in 

 contact with the wood with wadding before sliding down 

 the corresponding piece. Flowers thus packed have 

 travelled from London to Edinburgh without receiving the 

 slightest injury. 



The best contrivance for showing the spikes is perhaps 

 in large pots filled with wet sand and nicely covered with 

 green moss. When single flowers are shown, a common 

 box, such as is used for Dahlias, Roses, and the like, is all 

 that is required. 



THE HOLLYHOCK. 



[From " The Gardeners' Annual? 1863,^. 56.] 



CAN we dispense with the Hollyhock ? The Rose is 

 a more general favourite, and in its varied states of 

 standard, climber, and bush, a more available plant ; the 

 Dahlia is still the " Queen of Autumn ;" but for the odd 

 nooks and corners in small gardens, and for planting in 



