Book II. DOUBLE ROCKET. 



S61 



6447. Mode of growing. The common sorts are introduced in borders, and the better varieties in pre 

 pared beds. Sometimes rare sorts are planted in pots, but in general they thrive better in the open 

 ground. *^ 



6448. Soil. Maddock says, " A good fresh loamy soil, dug and comminuted about two feet deep and 

 manured with a stratum of cow-dung, two years old, mixed with an equal proportion of earth, (this' stra- 

 tum to be about six inches thick, and placed five or six inches below the surface,) is all the preparation or 

 compost that appears necessary for this flower." 



6449. General culture. As soon as the pipings are struck and will bear removal, they are to be planted on 

 a bed of common garden-mould, where, in a few weeks, it will easilv be discernible which are the strongest 

 plants to remove to the blooming-bed. " This bed should be raised three or four inches above the sur- 

 rounding paths, and its sides may be supported with an edging of boards, to come up even with, or one 

 inch higher than its surface ; this last, more for the sake of neatness than any particular utility it will be 

 of to the plants." 



6450. The plants intended for the principal bed for bloom, should be placed upon it in August, or 

 early in September, as they do not blow quite so well if removed later in the season ; they should be planted 

 at about the distance of nine inches from each other, and the bed should be laid rather convex, or round- 

 ing, to throw off excess of rain ; but will require no other covering than a verv slight one in case of severe 

 frost. The bed should be kept free from weeds, and its surface stirred up a little if it inclines to bind, or, in 

 other words, whenever it becomes too firm and adhesive. Larger strong plants will put up numerous 

 flower-stems, but it is proper to thin them out a month or six weeks before bloom ; in doing which, the 

 largest and strongest should be left, especially the leading stem, which proceeds from the heart or centre 

 of the plant, together with all its best pods ; but no plant, however strong, should be permitted to bloom 

 more than ten or twelve blossoms, nor weakly plants more than four or five. In order to obtain them large 

 and well colored, all the small lateral pods should be cut or pulled off, as they never produce any other than 

 diminutive flowers, and at the same time rob the others of a certain part of their nourishment, which, of 

 course, prevents their attaining the size and beauty they would otherwise arrive at. 



6451. The largest and most bushy plants do not produce the finest flowers ; they naturally put forth 

 numerous small stems, which their roots are not able to support sufficiently to produce large blossoms. 

 Strong healthy plants, not too large, and consisting of a capital leading stem in the centre, with but little 

 surrounding increase, are most proper to select for the best bed ; these will seldom put up more than one 

 or two stems, which will, however, be very strong, grow tall, and produce three or four blossoms, as large 

 and fine as the sort is capable of. 



6452. Those pods that appear in danger of bursting should be tied in the same manner as directed 

 for carnations under similar circumstances. Such sorts of pinks as are most inclined to burst their pods, 

 oftentimes produce larger and finer flowers than others which have smaller pods, because the latter gene- 

 rally consist of too few petals : it is, however, more desirable to have their pods large and long, than too 

 short and round, as it is hardly possible to preserve the latter from bursting, whereby the beauiiful circular 

 form which the flower ought to possess is lost. When the calyx is so extremely short that it must in- 

 evitably burst, it is better to assist nature by what is called letting down the pod, that is, with a penknife 

 to nick it down at the bottom of each of its indentures, as low as may be deemed necessary, in order to let out 

 petals regularly on every side, and preserve the circular form of the blossoms ; for if it is left to nature, the 

 calyx will burst only on "one side, and its petals will consequently force their way through that aperture, and 

 produce a loose deformed flower ; some kinds are possessed of such weak and short pods, that the calyx 

 Iflg- 571- <*) will entirely burst from top to bottom on one side, and open so very wide as to suffer almost all 

 the petals to fall out and hang down when they have been in bloom but a short time ; such indeed hardly 

 deserve to be classed amongst the best sorts, let their properties, in other respects, be ever so desirable. 

 When the flower-stems are grown sufficiently long, they should be supported with small sticks or wires, as 

 the fancy of the cultivator may direct ; but these ought to be disposed of in such a manner as to allow the 

 blossoms to expand and blow perfectly distinct from each other, that the whole may have an easy graceful 

 appearance. Those who can bestow sufficient time and attention to their bloom of pinks, may contribute 

 greatly to the effect, by placing upon the calyx the thin pieces of card, or stiff paper, cut circular {fig. 612. 

 g), already mentioned ";6439.) ; these are to be placed close underneath the guard-leaves, so as to support 

 them horizontally, and will, when they extend just as far as the extreme points of the petals, give the 

 blossom a very circular and pleasing appearance ; but they are apt to warp when long exposed to the 

 weather, especially after being wet, and must either be taken off entirely, or exchanged for new ones, as 

 they will no longer answer the intended purpose. Some kinds do not require any assistance of this sort, but 

 the greater part not having their guard-leaves sufficiently strong at the base to support themselves in a 

 horizontal position, are considerably improved by this little contrivance, which, perhaps, by the foregoing 

 description, will not be difficult to comprehend. 



&i53. At the time of bloom, which is towards the end of June, it is proper to defend the bed by a 

 covering or awning, somewhat similar to that used for the bloom of tulips and carnations ; they should, in 

 like manner, enjoy the advantage of light and air, and the soil should be kept regularly moist by soft 

 water, administered between the plants, carefully avoiding to wet the blossom. (Florist's Direct. 220.) 



6454. Hogg observes, that " pinks moved and transplanted in the spring never do well, nor show half the 

 beauty which those do that were planted in September ; the laced pinks in particular appear almost plain, 

 and without their distinguishing character : they should likewise never be suffered to remain longer than 

 two years without either change of soil or situation." 



6455. Emmerton savs, " your pink-bed should be top-dressed in the spring, if you have a desire to excel 

 in blooms, with some old night-soil, or sugar-baker's scum, finely sifted and sown over it. Your 

 strong-blowing plants should not be allowed to bloom more than eight or ten blooms, and those that are 

 weaker, of a less size, not more than four." (Treatise on Auricula, &c. 191.) 



Subsect. 19. Double Rocket. Hes]>eris matronalis, L. (Lam. ill. t. 564. f. 1.) Tetrad. 

 SUiq. L. and Cruciferce, J. Julienne, Fr. ; Nachtviolen, Ger. ; Esperide, Ital. 



6456. The double rocket is a biennial or imperfect perennial ; a native of Italy, and 

 cultivated by Gerrard in 1597. 



6457. The varieties are the white and purple, both very double, and forming a spike 

 of about a foot long, of great beauty and fragrance, and considerable duration. 



6458. Propagation and culture. The plant is extremely difficult to preserve, especially near large 

 towns. It do?s not thrive either near London or Paris ; and both capitals, especial y the latter are 

 supplied with it from provincial growers. It is very much grown in the west of : Scotland, and in the 

 Netherlands; and between Calais and Abbeville it may be seen m great perfection in most cottagers 

 gardens. Van Mens (Hort. Trans, ii. 153.) says it prospers best in a clayey soil, but flowers best in one of 

 I lighter texture, like the lobelia cardinalis. The best directions which we have met with for ite culture 

 are given by Robertson. (Caled. Mem. ii. 245.) He says, The double rocket ,s a beaut.hd plant 

 rather scarce in this part of the country, owing chiefly, I suppose, to florists not being acquainted with a 

 successful way of increasing it. I had a few ulanrs of rocket under my care, and I did them all justice, as 

 I Sgh, but all would not do ; I lost them all. I tried to part their roots, but being small and I weak, 

 the slugs eat them all up in a short time ; as slugs are verv fond of them especial ly of hrteaves. I 

 tried to increase them by cuttings in the common way, with as little success. JThis led me to try another 



