206 CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



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THE HOLLY-HOCK. 



By L. H. Wilder, Cooksville. 



ON a long and slender stalk 

 Blooms the jaunty holly-hock ; 

 Who so saucy, who so tall, 

 Peeping o'er the garden wall ? 

 Rosy red and softest white ; 

 Sunshine is its keen delight ; 

 Dainty pinks, dark crimson shades ; 

 Fav'i'ite beau of the old maids. 



• Is he near some humble cot, 



T will become a lov§ly spot ; 

 If the curtains are not high 

 Look within — he is not shy ; 

 In broad daylight, him you see, 

 Kissing butterfly and bee : 

 Hale and hearty on his stalk 

 Sways and smiles the holly-hock. 



Coleus. position, placing them in rows, say an 

 My practice with Coleus is to grow inch or more apart each way. When 

 fine healthy plants this summer, and in fully rooted, which should be in a few 

 August and September, before frost, days, either pot them in small pots or 

 take cuttings for my winter stock, transplant to another bed, in either 

 This may be done without the aid of case observing to give them full morn- 

 glass or any protection, if some shade ing sun, but shading the first day or 

 and moisture is secured. Under trees more after disturbance. If inclined to 

 or dense shrubbery, the temperature is grow tall or spindling, pinch the tips ; 

 about right to root them. this checks elongation, and furnislies 

 Mellow the soil in the place intended strength to the incipient buds at the 

 for them, cover this with some two or axils of the lower leaves and causes 

 three inches of sharp, clean sand, level them to break and form branches. 

 it off and water well. Never take off When these have made their third or 

 more cuttings at one time than can be fourth leaf, pin-ch as before ; this will 

 attended to immediately, as they wilt form beautiful shaped plants, very 

 if cut long, and never recover from it. bushy and desirable. They should be 

 Cut them with three or four pairs of regularly watered and well protected 

 leaves, leaving tlie lower pair attached, from chill or frost. 



but cutting close to them, insert in the If grown in window garden, they 



sand only enough to secure them in will need the sunniest and warmest 



