1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



7 



GERMAN STOCKS. 



(Matliiola annua.) ■> 

 To an experienced gardener, the different 

 varieties of German Stocks present nearly or 

 most all the essential requisites of a perfect 

 flowering plant. Of excellent habit, fine, 

 healthy foliage, and deliciously fragrant flow- 

 ers of almost every desirable and conceivable 

 tint, they are imiversally admired, and in 

 all well-regulated gardens considered indis- 

 pensable for bedding, massing, or pot culture, 

 while for cut-flowers they are almost without 

 an equal. In addition to these excellent 

 qualities, they are prized 

 for their ease of culture, 

 freedom from insects, and 

 capability of standing our 

 hot, dry summer weather 

 without sustaining the 

 least injury. The end- 

 less varieties of this mag- 

 nificent flower may be 

 divided into four princi- 

 pal classes: Ten Week, 

 Intermediate or Autum- 

 nal Flowering, German 

 Brompton, and Imperial 

 or Emperor. 



The Ten Week Stock is 

 the most popular and uni- 

 versally cultivated. The 

 name Ten Week is de- 

 rived from the fact that 

 the plant blooms within 

 ten or twelve weeks after 

 being sown. The plants 

 grow from half a foot to 

 two feet in height, ac- 

 cording to the variety. 

 This class is usually di- 

 vided into five varieties, 

 viz. : Dwarf, Miniature, 

 Large Flowered, Pyra- 

 midal, and Wall- flower 

 Leaved. For general culti- 

 vation, the two latter are 

 most to be recommended. 



To those who wish to 

 make only one sowing, 

 the first week in March 

 will prove to be the most- 

 favorable season. The 

 seed can be procured in 

 mixed packets, or in sepa- 

 rate colors, as may be 

 desired. It should be 

 sown thinly, in well- 

 drained pots of light, 

 sandy soil, covered slight- 

 ly, and the first sowings 

 placed in a warm, light 

 position, watered care- 

 fully, and when the 

 plants are strong enough 

 to handle, transplanted 

 into shallow boxes. As 

 soon as the plants become well established, 

 gradually harden off, and plant out when all 

 danger of frost is over. To provide for a 

 succession of bloom, however, and to enjoy 

 it for a considerable period, it is necessary 

 to make a second sowing about the first of 

 April, in a hot-bed, and a third about the 

 first of May, in a cold frame. This will 

 give a succession until autumn, when we 

 have the Autumnal Flowering varieties to 

 succeed them. An additional sowing, made 

 about the middle of July, will produce fine 

 plants for flowering in the window garden, 



for which purpose they seem well adapted, 

 on account of their being dwarfer in growth 

 than the Intermediate varieties. In the 

 greenhouse, however, the latter are of most 

 value. Treat the plants as above advised, 

 and take every care to prevent them 

 from becoming "drawn" or "slender"; if 

 they become so, both plants and flowers will 

 be rendered worthless. If the plants that are 

 not too far advanced in bloom are carefully 

 taken up and potted, they will flower nicely 

 in the house, if given a sunny position. 

 Ill order to obtain the very best results in the 



NEW LARGE- FLOWERING GERMAN STOCKS. 



C One-half the aocraye size.) 



cultivation of German Stocks, it is essential 

 that the flowering bed be thoroughly and 

 properly prepared. This is best done by 

 digging the soil to the depth of two feet at 

 least, and working in a good portion of well- 

 rotted manure, in which a quantity of bone- 

 dust has been mixed. Place the plants from 

 eighteen to twenty inches apart, and during 

 the summer season give them a weekly water- 

 ing of weak guano-water. This watering 

 should be thoroughly done, and the surface 

 of the ground stirred with a rake or hoe the 

 next day. 



The Autumnal Flowering or Intermediate 

 Stock is very highly prized on account of its 

 flowering in the autumn. The varieties of 

 this class form large plants, and produce 

 their flowers in immense spikes — the two best 

 varieties being the Covent Garden white and 

 scarlet. In order to obtain a fine display, it 

 is requisite that the plants should be strong 

 when planted out in May. For this purpose 

 the seed should be sown the first week in 

 March, and the yomig plants given the same 

 treatment as advised for Ten Week Stock. 

 Their flowering bed requires the same prepa- 

 ration, and the plants 

 should also be given the 

 same treatment. They 

 are also much prized as 

 pot -plants, for spring 

 blooming, and for this 

 purpose the seed should 

 be sown in a partially 

 shaded frame, about the 

 end of July, and as soon 

 as the plants are strong 

 enough, plant out on 

 a well-prepared border. 

 Before cold weather sets 

 in they should be taken 

 up, potted, and placed 

 in the coolest part of the 

 greenhouse. 



The German Brompton 

 Stock are usually divi- 

 ded into two sections — 

 Brompton andCocardeau. 

 The Brompton forms 

 bushy plants, with many 

 branches, and when in 

 full bloom produces a 

 magnificent display. The 

 Cocardeau produce a sin- 

 gle flower-stem only, and 

 are by many considered 

 the perfection of a Ger- 

 man Stock. They flower 

 about the same time as 

 the Intermediate, if given 

 the same treatment, 

 which is a very proper 

 one for them. 



The Imperial or Em- 

 peror Stocks, when well 

 grown, form large bushes, 

 and frequently continue 

 to flower for several years. 

 The seed, if sown early, 

 will flower in autumn, 

 while for spring flowering 

 it should be sown in July. 

 The treatment advised for 

 Intermediate Stocks is 

 also applicable to this 

 class. When grown as 

 pot-plants, the different 

 varieties of German 

 Stocks require an abun- 

 dance of pot-room for their roots, a com- 

 post of two-thirds well-rotted sods, one-third 

 well -rotted manure and bone-dust — well 

 mixed. They also require to be freely 

 watered, and once a week a weak liquid- 

 manure water should be given. They should 

 not be crowded together in the window 

 garden or greenhouse ; and as they are 

 very subject to the green fly, care is 

 required at all times to keep these pests 

 in check. They do not require a very high 

 temperature, but delight in a light, sunny 

 situation. Chas. E. Parnell. 



