546 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cuttings may be found in the form of leafy growths quite at the 

 base of the main stem ; a portion of these may be cut off with a 

 sharp knife quite close to the stem and planted singly in small 

 flower-pots, in the same manner that the eyes have been. They 

 will also produce roots in a close frame, but must be shaded 

 from bright sunshine, a little ventilation being necessary at the 

 highest part of the frame. These, when rooted, may be planted in 

 larger flower-pots, and wintered in cold frames ; for we must not 

 ignore the useful hint given by Parkinson, that they will reasonably 

 abide the winter. I am sure no good gardener would trust his entire 

 stock of any good variety out in the borders during the winter 

 months, even in the south of England. This remark on hardiness 

 does not apply to seedling plants that have not flowered, for 

 if these are well established in the open ground before the winter 

 the losses are so few that they need not be taken into account. 



General Cultural Remarks. — In the preparation of the soil 

 for any plant we must consider the nature of the subject with 

 which we have to deal. The Hollyhock is a gross-feeding plant, 

 and requires very rich deep soil to grow in, so that the ground 

 should be trenched 2 feet deep, and plenty of farmyard manure 

 should be incorporated with it in the process. The time of planting 

 is in spring, when the really severe frosts are over, but the prepa- 

 ration of the ground should take place in the early autumnal months 

 of the previous year : this is necessary if the very best results are 

 expected. Even stiff clay soils are pulverised into fine powder 

 by the winter frosts, and if the surface is lightly forked over in 

 fine weather (for it must not be touched in a wet state) it will be 

 in the best possible condition for planting about the end of March 

 or early in April. Hollyhock plants will grow from 6 to 12 feet in 

 height, or even more ; therefore they require stout sticks about 

 6 feet out of the ground. To save labour and future injury to the 

 roots of the plants it is best to put in the permanent supports at 

 once. A stake of some kind is necessary, and it does not take 

 much longer to place a large one than it does a small one which 

 must be removed later. When well established not much culture 

 is needed, except to tie the stems to their supports; and if the 

 best results are expected, the leaves must be copiously syrinsred 

 and the plants freely watered in hot dry weather. A mulching of 

 decayed manure ought to be spread over the surface of the 

 ground at the base of the stems of each plant. 



