370 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 9. 
third of the size. I would, therefore, advise what I 
intend doing—increasing it, and trying its effect in a 
largish mass, in the neighbourhood of something else 
of a bright, cheerful-looking character. Then, in-doors 
or out, if it maintains its present reputation, it will not 
cause disappointment. 11. Fish. 
THE HOLLYHOCK. 
(Continued from page 308.) 
Having dwelt largely upon the hybridizing, raising 
seedlings, and managing this flower till it blooms, we 
now return to management of established varieties. The 
first points in that management are soil and situation. 
The soil that the Hollyhock delights in may be 
described as a firm, yet friable loam, such as we find in 
old pastures near the sides of a river, “far from dust 
and smoke.” This is often termed virgin soil, because it 
has never been mixed nor used before for gardening 
purposes. Now, any one that can obtain such a soil 
for his Hollyhocks may think himself a favoured in¬ 
dividual ; but if it cannot be had in such a pure state, 
let him procure some as nearly like it as possible. Then 
not only have good soil, but have plenty of it, for the 
bed should be at least three feet wide, with eighteen 
inches of this good earth in it. For the first year it will 
be rich enough without any manure, excepting a thin 
covering on the surface during the winter. If too rich, 
the colours may run, but in loam alone, the colours will 
be bright and clear, and yet the growth will be suffi¬ 
ciently strong to bring out the flowers to their full size. 
The ground, if low, should be well and thoroughly 
drained, the Hollyhock being very impatient of moisture 
at the roots during winter. The situation where Holly¬ 
hocks should be planted ought to be an open one, where 
plenty of air can blow around them, and no drip from 
neighbouring trees fall upon them. The best season for 
planting the general collection, if the plants are strong, 
is about the end of September. By planting them thus 
early, they will begin to push forth new roots, and even 
leaves, before the severe weather takes place. If the 
plants should be weak from any cause, such as being 
struck late, &c., then it will be better to keep them in 
| pots in a cold frame through the winter, and plant them 
out early in March. Previously to planting, let us 
consider what will be the best mode of doing it, so as to 
show them off to the best advantage when in bloom. 
Planting .—We have said above that the bed should 
be three feet wide. This implies that the plants should 
be planted in beds, with walks on each side. In this 
bed, then, let them be planted directly, in a row, and 
exactly in the centre. As each plant should be effective, 
care should be taken that each plant is alike healthy 
and strong. Plant them at a foot-and-a-half apart; a 
foot would be too thick, and two feet two thin. Take 
the medium, and the row will be full enough almost to 
form an impenetrable blind, especially if the side-shoots 
are trained in likewise. The best implements to plant 
with are a small spade and a pair of willing hands. 
Stretch a line down the bed, at such a distance from the 
side that the plants will be in the centre; then dig a 
hole out sufficiently wide and deep to hold all the roots 
without cramping them. If the plants are in pots, turn 
the first out, break the ball gently, and spread the roots 
out every way, working the soil amongst them with the 
hands, gradually filling up the hole until the soil is 
quite level; press it down gently during the operation, 
and leave it a little the highest round the neck of the 
plant; this finishes the first plant. Before planting the 
next, it will be wise to consider the kind that should 
j come as its neighbour; the principal consideration for 
regulating this being colour. It is certainly desirable to 
have a variety in each row, especially in an amateur’s 
garden. A florist, or a nurseryman, may he desirous to 
plant all one kind together, and this is quite right in 
his case, because, by so doing, he prevents, in a great 
measure, mistakes in supplying the orders of his cus¬ 
tomers ; hut an amateur will not consider this so much, 
but will be desirous to have a mixture of colours, and 
this we shall leave to his own taste and discretion, only 
advising him to avoid violent contrasts. Having fixed 
upon the colour, proceed to plant the next, and so on, 
until the bed is filled, taking care, as the work goes on, 
that the right name or number is firmly affixed to each, 
so that no mistake may probably be made. Indeed, as 
a further precaution, it will be advisable to keep a list 
of the names in a book, just as they stand in the row, 
so that if the label is lost, the name in the book will 
declare what the name of the variety is. 
T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
CONIFER.®. 
(Continued from page 336.) 
Cedrds Libani (Cedar of Lebanon).—This magni¬ 
ficent, well-known tree, is found, as its name imports, 
on Mount Lebanon, in Syria, from whence Solomon 
fetched its timber to build the temple at Jerusalem. In 
this country it has become almost naturalized, but is 
not planted, even yet, as a matter of economy or profit, 
which is much to be marvelled at, especially as there 
are plenty of trees so mature in age as to produce cones 
filled with ripe seeds annually in our cold climate. 
Such being the fact, is it not surprising that the fine 
specimens in the country are chiefly found near to the 
mansions of the gentry only, instead of being planted 
out largely, as a matter of profit, like the oak or the 
larch ? It is true, the plants, when young, are somewhat 
costly to plant on a large scale ; but the reason of this 
is because sufficient encouragement has not been given 
to nurserymen to raise large quantities for that purpose. 
This fine tree will grow in almost any soil or situ¬ 
ation, hut thrives best on a moderate elevation, in 
tolerably deep, good loam, with a dry subsoil. When 
it is desired to see it, in all the majesty of its character, 
it should be planted singly, at a distance of not less 
than forty or fifty feet from any other tree. Very re¬ 
cently, we saw an example of planting the Cedar of 
Lebanon which is worthy of notice and imitation. 
F. Wright, Esq., has spent at least twenty years in 
building and planting, at Osmaston, near Ashbourn, in 
Derbyshire. He has built a church, a village, and a 
mansion for himself and his descendents to reside in. 
On each side of the carriage drive (which is nearly two 
miles long) from the high road to the house, there are 
numerous groups and single trees of the Cedar of 
Lebanon, planted at proper distances from each other, 
and securely protected by strong iron hurdles from 
being browsed upon by the cattle. They are judiciously 
planted in such an irregular manner as never to form 
anything like the appearance of an avenue. They are 
now young, flourishing trees, and will, in after gene¬ 
rations, be truly fine objects, and mementos of the taste 
and spirit of the present proprietor. 
The Cedar of Lebanon produces most excellent 
timber, which, when fully grown, is almost imperish¬ 
able. We are not aware that the seeds are eatable, and 
should suspect not, from the large quantity of resin 
they contain. The spray and branches not useful as 
timber make excellent firewood. 
In our nurseries there are several varieties of this 
remarkable tree, some more and some less distinct. As 
curiosities, they are worth searching for and growing. 
They are named— G. L.foliis argenteis, or silver-leaved; 
C. L. nana, the dwarf, a curious little thing; C. L. 
