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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS alth^ia 



soil, and being of somewhat coarse and 

 vigorous growth are suitable for shrub- 

 beries or the rougher parts of the flower 

 garden. The perennial species may be 

 increased in early autumn or in spring 

 by dividing the rootstocks carefully. They 

 may also be multiplied by sowing the 

 seeds as soon as ripe either in a warm 

 border or in a cold frame, afterwards 

 thinning the seedlings out, or pricking 

 them out into light rich soil at least 

 before the end of September. The culti- 

 vation of the Hollyhock will be dealt with 

 separately under the species from which 

 it has been derived, viz. A. rosea, and as 

 a matter of fact the other species de- 

 scribed may be cultivated in the same 

 way. 



A. cannabina. — A perennial 5-6 ft. 

 high, native of S. France. Leaves 

 downy, lower ones palmately parted, 

 upper ones 3-parted, lobes narrow, teeth 

 coarse. Flowers in summer, rose. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 seeds or division. 



A. caribsa. — A hairy-stemmed bien- 

 nial about '6 ft. high, native of the Caribbee 

 Islands. Leaves heart-shaped, roundish, 

 lobed, crenate-serrate. Flowers in spring, 

 rosy, with a yellow base. 



Culture Sc. as above and for A. rosea 

 below. 



A. ficifolia {Antwerp Bollyhoch). — 

 A stout and vigorous Siberian biennial 

 6-10 ft. high, with somewhat open 

 hand-shaped leaves, irregularly toothed 

 on the edges. Flowers in summer, red 

 or yellow or orange, large, single or 

 double. 



Culture dc. as above and for A. rosea 

 below. 



A. flexuosa. — A perennial 2-3 ft. high, 

 native of N. India, with long-stalked, 

 cordate, 7-lobed leaves. Flowers in 

 summer, scarlet, solitary; petals obcor- 

 date. 



Culture dc. as above and for A. rosea 

 below. 



A. narbonensis. — A strong-growing 

 perennial 3-6 ft. high, native of Prance 

 and Spain. Leaves downy, serrated, 

 lower ones 5-7-lobed. Flowers in 

 August, pale red, on many-flowered 

 stalks. 



Culture dc. as above and for A. rosea 

 below. This plant is closely related to 

 A. cannabina, and is practically a botani- 



cal form of it, although distinct enough 

 for garden purposes. 



A. officinalis {Common Marsh 

 Mallow; Ouimauve). — A well-kuown 

 British marsh plant 3-4 ft. high, with 

 soft, woolly, heart-shaped or ovate, 

 toothed, undivided, or slightly 5-lobed 

 leaves, and flowers in summer of a 

 delicate blush colour. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 useful for associating with bog or marsh 

 plants, and therefore requires to be grown 

 in moister soil than the other species. 



A. rosea {HollyhocTc). — The wild 

 Hollyhock is a straight -stemmed, hairy 

 perennial 6-10 ft. or more high, native of 

 China. Leaves rough, heart-shaped, with 

 5-7 crenated angles or lobes. Flowers in 

 summer, rosy, large, axillary, without 

 stalks, somewhat spiked at the top. 



The cultivated Hollyhock, which has 

 been derived in almost innumerable 

 varieties from this species, and has been 

 grown for more than 300 years, is one of 

 the most beautiful and noble-looking of 

 hardy plants. From 35 to 40 years 

 ago it was extensively cultivated, and 

 from July to the end of September was 

 a feature at horticultural exhibitions. 

 There were the English and Scottish 

 types, the former having small closely set 

 flowers, with neat, well-filled centres and 

 narrow ' guard-petals ' ; the latter large 

 flowers, wide guard-petals, and smaller 

 centres indented with openings caUed 

 ' pockets.' The two types were crossed 

 with each other, and a new race — that 

 now most generally seen — was the result. 



Soil. — Hollyhocks like a deep, rich, 

 loamy soU, well enriched with farmyard 

 manure. About the end of March is the 

 best time for planting, the ground having 

 previously been well trenched or dug. 

 During the hot summer months the 

 plants should have plenty of water. A 

 mulching of well-rotted manure will 

 greatly assist in keeping the moisture in 

 the soO, and prevent its being baked by 

 the fierce rays of the sun. Plenty of 

 moisture at the root in summer and 

 dryness in winter suit Hollyhocks best. 



Propagation. — -Hollyhocks may be 

 increased by seeds, cuttings, or by care- 

 fully dividing the rootstock ; also by 

 ' eyes,' that is buds, taken with a portion 

 of the older stem, usually during July and 

 August. By seed is probably the easiest 

 and most natural method, and there is 



