Gardening in California 



ALTHOEA ROSEA (Hollyhock). 



The Hollyhock is one of our old favorite garden plants, 

 indispensable for producing bold striking color effects in our 

 flower-borders and shrubberies. It delights in a rich light soil 

 and an open sunny situation. 



Seeds should be sown as soon as ripe, in September or early 

 in October, either in an open sheltered spot out of doors or in 

 a cold frame, being covered to the depth of a quarter of an inch. 

 As soon as the seedlings are large enough to be handled, prick 

 them out about three inches apart in boxes, or singly in three- 

 inch pots, in light rich soil composed of one-quarter very old 

 manure, one-half good surface loam and one-quarter leaf-mold 

 with enough sand to keep the soil open, all well-mixed together 

 by having been turned over several times. Plant them out, 

 where they are to bloom, in February or early in March, in 

 specially prepared, well-cultivated soil enriched with well- 

 decayed manure, the ground having been dug two feet deep and 

 the manure mixed freely with the soil. When the flower-spikes 

 appear, mulch the ground about the roots with a heavy dressing 

 of half -rotten manure and support the flower-stalk by a good 

 stiff stake eight feet long by two inches square tapering to one 

 inch square at the top, the stake being sharpened and driven two 

 feet into the ground. The roots should be given a fair supply of 

 water but over-watering must be guarded against, as too much 

 water seems to encourage the Hollyhock fungus, a disease which 

 has ruined many fine plants. Should this disease make its ap- 

 pearance, pick off the affected leaves at once and burn them up 

 to prevent it spreading. 



The Hollyhock, in addition to being propagated by seeds, 

 may be increased by cuttings of the young shoots which grow 

 up from the old root. These should be taken off when about 

 three or four inches long, and placed in a shady sheltered spot, 

 in soil composed of sand and leaf-mold, until rooted, when 

 they may be treated as recommended for seedlings. 



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