HARDY PLANTS. 
173 
still, by cuttings of non-flowering shoots inserted in a shady 
corner in summer; or division of the roots in autumn. 
Matthiola (Stock). — The Stock is a well-known garden 
flower, belonging to the Wallflower order (Cruciferae). There 
are several distinct types of stocks in cultivation. For 
example, there is the Ten-week, Intermediate, East Lothian, 
the Brompton, Queen, and Wallflower-leaved, all originally 
derived from M. incana. The Ten-week Stock, so called 
because it usually flowers in ten weeks from sowing 
the seeds, exists in several distinct types as the Dwarf, 
and Tall German, Perfection, Pyramidal, Victoria, Rocket, 
etc., the special names of which will be found in seed 
lists. This stock is one of the showiest of garden 
flowers, and may be had in shades of white, crimson, 
blue, purple, yellow, rose or scarlet. The plants grow from 
i to 2ft. high and flower profusely throughout the summer and 
autumn months. To grow them really well the seeds should 
be sown in shallow boxes of light soil in a heated greenhouse, 
or on a hot-bed in March, and as soon as the seedlings can be 
safely handled they should be transplanted three in a 3-in. pot, 
or 2 to 3in. apart in shallow boxes of good soil, kept under 
glass for a week, then gradually hardened off, and planted 
out late in May. Great care should be taken to keep the 
seedlings near the glass so that they may not become drawn. 
Those who have no artificial heat may sow the seeds in boxes 
in a cold frame in March, or even outdoors in April ; but such 
seedlings will not flower till late in summer. The soil in which 
Ten-week stocks are to be grown should be deep and rich, 
plenty of rotten manure being dug in before planting. Plant 
the seedlings out a foot apart each way, and nip out the centre 
shoot if dwarf bushy plants are required. Occasional applica- 
tions of weak liquid manure will be beneficial when the plants 
begin to flower. There is a strain of Ten-week stocks 
called Perpetual Flowering, of which Princess Alice is a typical 
variety. This bears fine spikes of lovely double white flowers 
from June to November. Rear and treat as advised for the 
ordinary kinds. The Intermediate stock is a biennial, bearing 
white, scarlet, crimson or purple flowers. This stock requires 
to be reared from seed in cold frames in July or August, the 
seedlings grown on in pots in frames till spring, then planted 
out to flower in May, June, etc. In mild districts the plants 
may be grown in beds or borders all the winter. The East 
Lothian stock has similar coloured flowers to the Intermediate, 
and flowers in the autumn. The seeds have to be sown in 
March, and the seedlings treated as advised for Ten-week 
stocks, planting out in May. The plants then flower from 
