160 



is expressive of the luxuriance of this Chinese 

 flower. It should be seen in long rows, in well- 

 drilled color-columns, to exhibit its most striking 

 effect, each plant a sentinel in uniform, and each 

 with rosettes brighter than his fellows. The 

 hollyhock will grow anywhere ; it will grow 

 doubly well with deep cultivation, and when lib- 

 erally manured and watered during dry weather. 

 Dampness being injurious during winter, it is 

 recommended to remove the earth about the 

 crowns in autumn and fill up with six inches of 

 white sand. Propagation is effected from eyes, 

 seeds, cuttings, and division. The thrip and 

 red spider are fond of the hollyhock, and hence 

 the rusty appearance so many plants present. 

 If you have four or five gardeners, this may be 

 obviated by syringing every leaf, upper and un- 

 der side, of the long rows daily with whale-oil 

 soap and tobacco-water. The hollyhock also 

 demands an admission fee. 



The graceful spring bitter-vetch (Orobus 

 vernus) is past its flowering, but still retains its 

 handsome foliage. Hieraceum aurantiacum has 

 passed, after showing its peculiar orange-red 

 flowers, even more odd in color than those of 

 the native orange-red milkweed that stains the 

 sandy places in midsummer. The creamy 

 trusses of the tall valerian are a hive of sweet- 



