117 
FRUITFULNESS. 
HOLLYHOCK. 
All the world knows this superb plant, 
which is supposed to be a native of China, 
or rather of Syria, whence it is said to have 
been brought to Europe in the time of the 
crusades. From its extreme fecundity in 
the production of flowers, it has been made 
the emblem of fruitfulness. The Chinese 
represent nature crowned with its flowers. 
Pliny mentions it as a rose growing on stalks 
like the mallow; and Miller states that he 
received seeds from Istria, where they were 
gathered in the fields; these seeds produced 
only single red flowers, while seeds received 
from Madras yielded plants with double 
flowers of a variety of colours. H. Smith 
tells us, that 
From the nectaries of hollyhocks 
The humble bee e’en till he faints will sip. 
“ There are few flowers that contribute 
more to the embellishment of large gardens 
than the hollyhock, although their hardy 
nature and easy propagation have rendered 
them so common that they are much less 
regarded by the generality of florists than 
they deserve.” 
