298 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST, [No. 10 



(^ On the Culture of the Hollyhock. &) 



There are few plants that contribute so much to the embellishment \J 

 of gardens and pleasure grounds, as the Hollyhock; whether it i$ j 

 planted in lines, masses, or detached specimens, this gorgeous gem of 

 flora is certainly an object worthy of admiration, ft rears up its 

 lofty pyramids of flowers, as if in defiance of its more humble com- 

 peers; being a vigorous grower, easily propagated, and of such 

 dazzling beauty, it is indeed a wonder that it is not much more in- 

 troduced into flower gardens and shrubberies than it fe-, presenting as 

 it does a brilliant display of dowers for many months, and at little 

 or no expense or trouble to the cultivator; indeed it will yield to no 

 other flowering plant in facility of culture, and the brilliancy and 

 variety esff color it displays. 



The Hollyhock will thrive in any common garden soil, provided it 

 be deep and rich, if it is not, trenching and manuring must be re- 

 sorted to. This is best performed in autumn ; trench to about the 

 depth of two feet, if the ground will admit of it, incorporating plenty 

 of manure. As the operation proceeds, leave it in as rough a state 

 as possible, or lay it up in ridges, so that it may have the full benefit 

 of the winter's frost. In spring,, previous to planting, dig in a good 

 dressing of thoroughly decomposed manure, after which the ground 

 may be considered in a state fit to receive the plants. The propaga- 

 tion of the Hollyhock is very simple ; it is generally propagated from 

 eyes much in the same manner as the grape vine. When the plants 

 are in flower, select those you wish to propagate; take a stem and 

 split it down into lengths separating each bud, pare away the pith, 

 and cut them about two inches below the eyes; care must be taken 

 that it is a leaf bud, rejecting all those that are developing flower 

 buds. When the eyes are prepared, insert them in a frame of light 

 sandy soil ; keep them shaded until they are rooted, when they may 

 be gradually exposed to the sun. They may also be increased by 

 cuttings, but eyes are preferable as they generally make the best 

 plants. If the situation be dry they may at once fee transplanted to 

 their flowering quarters, but it is better to pot them in middling sized 

 pots, and keep them in a cold frame or greenhouse all winter, and if 

 turned out in the spring, as soon as the weather will permit, they 

 will generally do better than if planted in autumn. In 1 planting al- 

 low four feet between each plant, if in a single line, but if in clumps 

 three feet will be sufficient. As soon as the stems are a foot or eigh- 

 teen inches high, thin them out, leaving one, two or three stems, 

 according to the strength of the plant, or the position in which it is 

 growing; thus, plants growing in the centre of a clump may be 

 allowed to have but one stem, while those growing towards the 

 «1 outside may be allowed two or three, which will keep them from 



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