FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
where it flowers freely until winter. The most suitable compost for 
them consists of equal parts of peat, loam, and leaf-mould, with the 
addition of a little sharp sand. They require abundant water when 
growing, but the drainage of pots must be perfect or they will quickly 
suffer. They need little water in winter if the house is cool. Should 
they be required to flower at this period, they must be placed in a warm 
house. They may be trained either as standards, bushes, or pillar-plants. 
When trained along the rafters of a conservatory, where the pendulous 
blossoms can hang freely, they become very ornamental. Cuttings 
should be taken from the young hard wood either in early autumn or 
early spring, inserted in pans of the compost recommended, and placed 
in the greenhouse or frame; September is the best period. Seeds may 
be sown in pans as soon as ripe. The shoots of most species require to 
be freely pinched back, which causes them to break more luxuriantly 
into flower. 
Description of The AbutUon figured is a hybrid of garden origin, the 
Hate sa result of a cross union between A. venosum and A. striatum. 
Fig. 1 is a section illustrating the structure of the parts as explained in 
giving the characters of the genus. 
HOLLYHOCKS 
Natural Order Malvaceae. Genus Altkcea 
Althea (Greek, * altheo, to heal: some of the species having been used 
medicinally). A genus consisting of a dozen species of hairy or woolly 
herbs with lobed or divided, alternate leaves. The flowers are produced 
solitarily from the axils or in terminal racemes. Attached to the calyx 
is an epicalyx divided into from six to nine lobes, though the calyx itself 
is but five-parted. The staminal tube is long, the filaments distinct at 
its summit. The ovary many-celled, the styles thread-like, their inner 
surfaces stigmatic. The species are distributed throughout the warm 
and temperate regions of the earth. 
History. With the exception of Althaea rosea, the Hollyhock, 
the genus can scarcely be said to be known in flower 
gardens. A. officinalis, the well-known Marsh Mallow, has long been 
esteemed in domestic medicine, a demulcent drink being prepared from 
its roots. This and A. hirsuta are natives of this country, but they are 
not commonly cultivated. A. rosea was introduced from China more 
than three hundred and twenty years ago' A. cannabina came from 
