The Stock. 71 



are free. If sown in February, March, or April, in a dry poor 

 soil, they may be transplanted into a rich soil in April or May, 

 taking care to preserve the earth about the roots, and not to in- 

 jure the fibres, though in some cases the extreme point of the 

 tap-root may be taken off, to' induce it to throw out more fibres. 

 Other seeds may be sown in May, which will not need trans- 

 planting, and which, if preserved from the frost, will continue 

 flowering till Christmas. Some persons, to produce larger 

 flowers, take off the side shoots as they appear, and thin the 

 blossom buds on the flower spike, by taking off every alternate 

 bud ; and others water with liquid manure, and use other 

 means, to produce fine plants. In whatever manner they are 

 treated, it must always be remembered that they require great 

 care in transplanting, and that this should be done when they 

 are quite young. The general rule is, that they are fit for 

 transplanting when they have opened their second pair of 

 leaves, and that it should not be delayed longer than a little 

 after the third pair is produced. When large plants are re- 

 moved, it should always be with such a ball of earth attached 

 that the roots may experience no check from the removal. 

 When the Stocks are planted out in the borders for flowering, 

 they are generally placed three together in an angular form, 

 so as to allow room for a stake to be placed in the centre to tie 

 them to, if necessary." 



Like all other plants belonging to the same natural order, 

 the Stock possesses anti-scorbutic and stimulant qualities. The 

 leaves of all the species are sometimes used as pot herbs. 

 The name Ten-week Stock is applied to this species, from the 

 circumstance that about that period elapses from the time 

 when the seeds are sown to the period of the full growth and 

 flowering of the plant. On the method of producing double 

 flowers from single ones in this and other garden plants, we 

 shall shortly give some instructions. 



