32 THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



gardens. The way to prepare 

 llonesly lor winter decora- 

 tions is to take the pods 

 between the forefinger and 

 thumb; gently rub them, and 

 the outer scales will fall off 

 and disclose the silvery scale 

 inside. 



Miehauxia eampanu- 



loides. — Few hardy plants 

 are. more distinct than this, 

 which belongs to the Bell- 

 flower race, and grows usually 

 about 4ft. in height. It is 

 best treated as a biennial, 

 sowing the seed in May or 

 June, and planting out in a 

 fairly sheltered sunny spot. 

 Sow the seed in a pan, and 

 place in a cold frame. The 

 flowers are large, and white 

 tinged with purple, several 

 being borne on the branching 

 stems. Beginners in garden- 

 ing should not grow it unless 

 they are prepared for possible 

 disappointments. It is un- 

 happily a rather uncertain 

 plant. 



Snapdragons. — See Antir- 

 rhinums. 



Stocks. — A garden is bereft 

 of a beautiful and fragrant 



flower when the homely Stock is absent. No matter 

 whether they are annual or biennial kinds, they possess 

 distinct charm, and should be planted freely in large 

 beds or grouped in borders to get their true effect in 

 colour, whilst when massed a stronger fragrance per- 

 vades the garden. It must not be forgotten that the 

 Stock is not very hardy, and in severe winters frequently 

 succumbs. The garden Stocks are divided into several 

 groups, and amongst biennials the tall Giant Brompton 

 forms are as handsome as any, these being distinguished 

 by woody stems and scarlet and white spikes of flowers, 

 the scarlet form being the most frequent. When the seed 

 isobtained from a thoroughly 

 good strain about half 

 the seedlings will be double 

 flowered, but sometimes 

 not a double variety will 

 occur. This is, however, 

 happily unusual. Sow the 

 seed of the Brompton Stock 

 in the open ground in the 

 latter part of May, and then 

 strong plants will be ready 

 for putting out where they 

 are to bloom in June. 

 Another pleasing section is 

 that known as the Queen, 

 of which there are white, 

 purple, and scarlet forms, 

 branching in growth, which 

 is no small consideration 

 when cut flowers are in great 

 demand. A popular section 

 is that known as the Inter- 

 mediate, which comprises 

 the East Lothian Stock, the 

 name Intermediate having 

 been given because they 

 appear to bridge over the 

 annual and biennial, and 

 may be regarded as belong- 

 ing to either class. There 

 are two periods for sowing 

 the seed — quite early in 

 August in pans or shallow 



STOCK, EMPEROR, 



WHITE BRANCHING STOCK. 



boxes, or in March in gentle 

 warmth, when the plants will 

 be ready for the open ground 

 in May and will flower freely, 

 whilst they may be had in 

 bloom in winter under glass 

 by sowing the seed about 

 midsummer and potting them 

 into 5in. pots, three in each. 

 A few potfuls of Stock in full 

 bloom in January are delight- 

 ful. Of special varieties for 

 growing under glass choose 

 such as Purity or All the 

 Year Round. Then we have 

 the Ten Week Stocks, of 

 which a beautiful variety is 

 Princess Alice, which is in 

 every way a good garden 

 Stock, branching in growth, 

 useful for cutting, very pure 

 white, and quite uouble. The 

 Ten Week is recognised by its 

 diversity of growth, some tail, 

 others dwarf, and flowers of 

 very varied colours, from 

 white to rose, red, purple, 

 and even a violet shade, 

 varieties of distinct forms 

 being named Superb 

 Bedding, Giant Ten Week, 

 and so forth, and the indi- 

 vidual kinds may be obtained 

 true to name. Pyramidal Stocks are very handsome, 

 and these are strongly advised for the summer garden, 

 As they grow into quite little bushes, put them not less 

 than I ft. apart, and carefully pick oft' decaying flowers. 

 Many named varieties belong to this group, such as the 

 Bouquet and Miniature and Mauve Beauty, the two 

 former sections being very dwarf and useful, particularly 

 for pots. When treating the Stock as an annual, remember 

 that gentle heat must be used, and drain the boxes or 

 shallow pans, whichever be used, thoroughly well. 

 Verbaseum phlomoides {Mullein) is a beautiful bien- 

 nial. V. phoeniceum is much dwarfer. 



Wallflowers.— These 

 homely plants must be sown 

 the year previous to flower- 

 ing, but they will grow in 

 time into large bushes, if 

 not cut down by severe 

 frosts. Wallflowers are, 

 unfortunately, tender, espe- 

 cially when young, and fre- 

 quently die off wholesale. 

 The well-known Belvoir 

 Yellow is as hardy as any, 

 but the list of varieties is 

 a long one, comprising the 

 rich reddish - brown Har- 

 binger, tall and dwarf Ger- 

 man types, the primrose- 

 tinted Primrose Dame, the 

 old blood-red Wallflower, 

 and even a purple kind. 

 Wallflowers are easily raised 

 in June in a prepared bed 

 of ordinary soil, and the 

 seedlings should be trans- 

 planted when 2in. or 3m. 

 high in rows. In about a 

 month's time transplant, or, 

 better still, remove every 

 other plant, which may be 

 transferred to the bed or 

 border, leaving those re- 

 maining in the reserve 

 ground for cutting. 



