THE FLORIST. 
317 
THE HOLLYHOCK. 
As it is intended to have a show of this flower in the next season at 
the Royal South London Society, perhaps a few hints may be useful 
to amateur growers, to guide them in preparing for the exhibition. 
However attractive the cut blooms may be, the mode of shewing 
them in spikes is much to he preferred. 
The natural appearance of a spike I need not occupy your space 
in describing; but, to prepare it for exhibition, the upper portion, 
which is composed of flower-buds, must be removed. The experi¬ 
ence of this season has taught me that, if cut down close to the buds 
which are just beginning to expand, about six or eight days before 
the spike is required for show, the expanding flowers will close over 
the cut part of the stem, and thus form a spike of flowers well 
crowned over. 
The length of the spikes thus prepared varies in different kinds 
of the Hollyhock ; some are not above ten inches, whilst others will 
support perfect flowers for upwards of two feet; as a medium, I 
think they look best when about three diameters in height. I have 
measured many spikes of good varieties, and have generally found 
them from five to six inches through; hence I think from fifteen to 
eighteen inches in height will be the standard most approved of. It 
should be carefully borne in mind that, as decay begins with the 
flowers at the bottom of the spike, those last the longest which pro¬ 
duce flowers of the thickest texture ; these well-arranged upon a 
stand, about one foot apart, produce a splendid effect. 
My chief object in addressing you being to draw attention to this 
mode of exhibiting the Hollyhock, and not to pen a treatise, I will 
conclude, with the hope that some of your numerous readers will give 
free expression to their views on this subject. 
R. B. Bircham. 
The Rosery, Hedenham, Norfolk. 
REMINISCENCES BY DR. HORNER. 
THE YELLOW PICOTEE. 
It must, generally, be conceded to florists that they are men who 
are wise in their generation, and that they have laboured hard in 
their vocation to attain perfection in their peculiar class of flowers. 
Yea, furthermore, feeling, like the Macedonian, that the arm was 
hampered, that the circle of their ambition was too narrowed, some 
younger spirits (but men who knew not Joseph), straining after new 
worlds of flowers to subjugate, or in which “ to mend Nature,” have 
obtruded Hollyhocks, Phloxes, Verbenas, Snapdragons, &c. to the 
much discomfort and surprise of the old school. 
Such a spirit, however, is altogether commendable as compared 
