hock IS biennial. 
HOLLYHOCK, (Althea rosea,) Nat. Ord. Malvacece. 
Every one knows the old Hollyhock, that all the children have played with, and that was so 
interesting and useful as a trap for bees, when you and I, dear 
reader, were young. Then it grew tall enough almost for a flag 
staff, with here and there a single flower about the shape, and half 
as large as a tea-cup, and every one of them, not appropriated to 
other uses, turned into a cheese about as big as a cent, which the 
girls thought made splendid necklaces. This was the old Holly- 
hock — not very pretty, not very graceful — and yet there were 
places where the Hollyhock of by-gone days looked well ; at 
least we thought so once, and we have no desire to correct that 
opinion. But look from the picture we have drawn to the one 
made by our engraver. Here we have a stately flower, and one 
showing as much grace as the finest architectural column the 
skill of man ever devised. No Rip Van Winkle, just awakened 
from a forty years' sleep, would recognize the modern Hollyhock 
as akin to any flower he had ever before beheld. Indeed, when 
made up in bouquets, pretty good judges are often at fault. A 
good, double, clear, white Hollyhock is a very good substitute for 
a Camellia or a white Rose, as a center of a bouquet. I do not 
now think of one as good, except the double white Balsam. In 
situations suitable for tall flowers, we know of nothing better than 
the Hollyhock ; and yet the improved varieties do not grow very 
high, from three to four feet being about the average. The Holly- 
New plants are obtained from seed and by dividing the roots. 
HONESTY, (Lunaria,) Nat. Ord. Cruciferce. 
Lunaria biennis is what is known as Honesty in all our gardens, and by all florists. There 
are a good many varieties, all, we think, native of Southern and 
Central Europe, and all tall-growing biennials and perennials. 
Honesty, the cultivated variety, bears racemes of pretty, single, 
purple flowers, and our engraving shows the general habit of the 
plant, as well as the size and form of the flower, a single specimen 
of which we give. The pod which contains the seeds is the most 
interesting to many growers, and indeed the plant perhaps is 
cultivated mainly for its peculiar seed-pouches, which are very 
large, perhaps two inches in length by one in width, very 
thin, and silvery white when ripe. These silvery pouches are 
curious and pretty, and are grown for winter ornaments, for which 
use they are very desirable. We have endeavored to show the 
appearance of these curious pods, each raceme of flowers produc- 
ing about such a cluster as shown in the engraving. The plant is very hardy ; two feet in height. 
IPOMOPSIS, Nat. Ord. Polemoniacece. 
The Ipomopsis are very beautiful plants, 
with long, elegant spikes of rich orange 
and scarlet flowers, excellent for conser- 
vatory and out-door decoration. The foli- 
age is very fine, like that of the Cypress 
Vine, giving great beauty to the plant, 
which grows usually from three to four feet 
in height, and keeps in flower a long time. 
The plant is a little difficult to keep over 
the winter, but generally proves quite 
hardy in a dry place. A wet situation is 
sure to destroy them in winter, causing 
With this exception, there are few plants of easier culture. 
108 
decay at the sui-face of the g 
