MATTHIOLA 



WALLFLOWEB OBDEB 



PAEEYA 203 



Stocks are biennial and therefore require 

 two seasons' growth to come to perfec- 

 tion. The seeds may be sown in pans 

 or boxes in June or July. When the 

 seedlings are an inch or so high, they 

 may be transferred to a piece of freshly 

 dug ground and planted 8-12 in. apart. 

 Should the plants be inclined to make 

 a too vigorous and sappy growth, they 

 should be lifted and again transplanted. 

 This wUl check the growth, and help to 

 harden the plants for the coming winter. 

 This second transplanting often saves 

 the plants from being kiUed outright in 

 severe winters. 



In the north and naturally cold 

 localities it is on the whole safer to winter 

 Brompton Stocks in cold frames, and 

 have them transplanted in spring. If 

 grown in pots they may with advantage 

 be brought into blossom earlier by placing 

 in the gentle heat of a greenhouse. 



In the south of England and Ireland 

 Brompton Stocks, if raised from seed 

 sown in spring in gentle heat, will in warm 

 and favourable seasons flower the same 

 year. Some forty or fifty years ago 

 Brompton Stocks were cultivated exten- 

 sively in the market gardens around 

 London, but for many years past they 

 have disappeared altogether from this 

 region. In the south and in the Channel 

 Islands, however, they are still grown very 

 largely, and from the latter place some 

 fine trusses of bloom are sent to the 

 London markets every year. 



Queen Stocks 



These Stocks are supposed to be 

 identical with Brompton Stocks and may 

 receive the same treatment. It is said, 

 however, that the seeds are darker than 

 those of the Brompton Stock, and that its 

 leaves are rough and wo»lly on the under 

 side, while those of the Brompton are 

 smooth on both sides. 



Wailflower-leaved Stock 



This is a variety of the biennial kind, 

 readily distinguished by having smooth 

 bright shiny green leaves like Wallflowers 

 instead of duU-coloured downy ones 

 like the other Stocks. It may be treated 

 like the Brompton or Queen Stock referred 

 to above. 



M. tricuspidata.— An annual about 1 

 ft. high, from the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean. It has oblong, toothed or sinuate 



leaves, the upper ones being more divided 

 or cut. The bright lilac flowers, lighter 

 towards the base, appear in summer, and 

 the entire plant is more or less pubescent. 

 Culture do. as for Ten Week Stocks 

 above, p. 201. 



M. tristis (Resperis tristis). — Night- 

 scented Stock. — An interesting biennial 

 from B. Europe, 9-24 in. high. Lower leaves 

 stalked, upper ones ovate, acute, stalkless, 

 entire or toothed, smooth or downy, pale 

 green, 2-4 in. long. Flowers in spring 

 and summer, varying from a dull white to 

 a duU dark purple, usually fragrant in the 

 evening, and scenting the atmosphere for 

 many yards round. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 sweet-scented Stock flourishes in moist 

 but weU-drained garden soil of a loamy 

 nature. It is raised from seeds sown out 

 of doors as soon as ripe, or in the early 

 spring under glass or in gentle heat. In 

 the latter case the seedlings will flower 

 the same year in favourable parts ; but 

 autumn-sown seedlings are pricked out 

 and transferred so as to flower the follow- 

 ing year. Imported seeds may also be 

 sown as recommended for the Wallflower 

 below. 



PARRYA. — A genus of low, smooth 

 or hairy herbs, with perennial roots, and 

 hnear or spoon-shaped, entire or sinuate- 

 toothed leaves. Flowers white, rose, or 

 purple, with erect sepals, and clawed 

 spoon-shaped petals. 



Culture and Propagation. — Parryas 

 are suitable for the rockery or edge of 

 borders. They grow easUy in ordinary 

 garden soil and may be increased by 

 dividing the roots in early autumn or 

 spring. Seeds may also be sown as soon 

 as ripe in the open border, and the seed- 

 lings should be transplanted not later than 

 the end of September, so that the roots 

 may obtain a good hold of the soU before 

 winter. 



P. arabidiflora. — A Siberian plant 

 6 in. high with somewhat fleshy lance- 

 shaped leaves and purple flowers in May. 



Culture dc. as above. 



P. arctica. — A native of Arctic 

 America about 3 in. high, with almost 

 entire leaves and corymbs of pale purple 

 flowers in May and June. 



Culture dc. as above. 



P. integerrima.— A Siberian plant 6 in. 

 high, with entire, somewhat spoon-shaped 



