992 
o'clock is often used as a screen with 
good results The colored part of the 
flower, which is white, various shades 
of red, and striped, is the calyx, drawn 
out in the semblance of a corolla and 
surrounded at the base by a leafy in- 
volucre. In some cases, as in Mirabilis 
jalapa, only one flower is borne on an in- 
voluere. 
The plant is a quick growing, erect, 
bushy herb, attaining to a height of from 
two to three feet. Its blooming period 
is during the late summer and autumn. 
Because of its habit of opening its flow- 
ers only late in the afternoon and on 
cloudy days the popular name, four- 
o’clock, has been given. While this 
plant is a tender annual in the northern 
part of the United States, it frequently 
reproduces itself from self-sown seed, 
and even as far north as New York city 
it frequently manifests its perennial 
habit of developing tuberous roots suffi- 
ciently large to be lifted and stored like 
those of the canna. 
Foxglove 
Digitalis 
The tall flower stems of the foxgloves 
are particularly attractive when seen 
growing among shrubbery or in bold 
masses along walks or drives. As a back- 
ground for lower growing plants the fox- 
gloves are also very useful and interest- 
ing. The spikes are frequently a foot 
or more in length and thickly strung with 
many showy, thimble-shaped flowers. 
Some of the new sorts rival gloxinias in 
shadings and markings. 
Plants may be grown from seeds sown 
in the open in May and the seedlings 
transplanted where they are to grow in 
the open or, preferably, to a cold frame, 
where they make extra strong plants that 
will flower profusely the next season. 
They are most satisfactory when treated 
as biennials, sowing the seed every year 
in rich, deep soil and partial shade. The 
average height of the plants is from two 
to three feet. When the center spike be- 
gins to fade it should be cut out and the 
side shoots will, in consequence, grow 
more vigorously. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
Gaillardia 
In the gaillardias are found both annual 
and perennial plants offering a wide se- 
leclion of varieties and a profusion of 
bloom over a long period. The blooming 
period begins early and continues late in 
autumn. They are well adapted to mix- 
ed borders and are very satisfactory as 
cut flowers. The stems are of good 
length, carry the flowers well, and keep 
fresh as cut flowers for a long time when 
placed in water. 
The annual gaillardias are all propa- 
gated readily from seeds sown jin the 
open, but earlier flowers will be secured 
by sowing seeds in a hotbed and trans- 
planting the plants to the open as soon 
as killing frosts have passed. In either 
case the blcooming plants should not stand 
closer than ten or twelve inches. They 
grow and bloom best when fully exposed 
to sun and air, and when planted on a 
fertile but light and well drained soil. 
Goprrra. See Hvening Primrose. 
HeLiantHus. See Sunflower. 
Hollyhock 
Althaca rosea 
These toc frequently neglected old- 
fashioned perennials are most pleasing 
and attractive when seen in groups or 
long rows against evergreen hedges or 
shrubbery as a background, and, in turn, 
form a very satisfactory background set- 
ting for plants of lower growth. The 
color variety in these plants is very 
great, ranging from pure white through 
almost every conceivable shade of yel- 
low red, and rose to ashen-gray and al- 
most black. Although hollyhocks are 
permanent and hardy, even during the 
first winter, it is advisable to make seed 
sowings every year, as the flowers on 
young, vigorous plants are much finer 
than those upon old ones. Seed sowings 
should be made in April or May, and not 
later than June, to flower the next year. 
In the final transplanting each seedling 
should be given a foot or more space 
each way to allow for full development. 
The average height of the hollyhock is 
four feet; many sorts, however, are 
much shorter, while an equal number are 
taller than the average above stated. 
