5twk. 
145 
Stock ....Lasting Beauty. 
The Stock has been made the emblem of lasting 
beauty; because, though it is less graceful than the 
rose, and less majestic than the lily, its splendour is 
more durable, and its fragrance of longer continuance. 
Few flowering plants have been so much and so ra¬ 
pidly improved by cultivation as the Stock. Within 
the last two centuries, its nature has been almost en¬ 
tirely changed by the florist; and it is now a shrub 
whose branches are covered with blossoms little infe¬ 
rior in dimensions to the rose. Stocks are produced 
of various colours, but the bright red or carmine must 
ever remain the favourite variety. The principal 
branches of this fragrant family are the Ten-week 
Stock; so named from flowering about ten weeks after 
it is sown; and the Brompton, which does not bloom 
till about twelve months after sowing, and was first 
cultivated in the neighbourhood of Brompton, England. 
Without the smile from partial beauty won, 
Oh, what were man!—a world without a sun! 
Campbell. 
Beauty has gone; but yet her mind is still 
As beautiful as ever; still the play 
Of light around her lips has every charm 
Of childhood in its freshness. 
. Percival. 
10 
