224 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Ma-ch  10.  1898. 
HOLLYHOCKS  FROM  SEED. 
In  years  gone  by,  before  these  noblest  of  old  English  flowers  were 
stricken  by  the  fungus,  Puccinia  malvacearum,  they  were  seen  in 
practically  all  gardens,  and  never  since  then  have  our  gardens  and 
pleasure  grounds  been  furnished  in  such  an  imposing  manner.^  Huge 
clumps  ot  towering  spikes,  bearing  massive  flowers  in  pure,  rich,  and 
varied  colours,  were  seen  almost  everywhere,  while  long  lines,  either 
flanking  walks  or  as  a  background  to  borders,  resembled  floral  walls 
or  pillars  of  beauty. 
In  the  pre-disease  days  choice  varieties  were  increased  by  cuttings 
or  grafting,  and  named  collections  were  grown  in  gardens  in  various 
parts  of  the  kingdom.  They  were  also  in  strong  force  at  flower  j 
shows,  the  spikes  being  some  2  feet  long,  the  tops  having  been 
removed  and  the  buds  thinned  for  affording  space  for  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  handsome  blooms.  These  massive  spikes  were  inserted  in 
pots  of  damp  sand,  and  hundreds  of  them  often  placed  i.i  competition. 
Pie;.  49. — Double  Hollyhocks. 
Blooms  were  also  in  proportionate  numbers  displayed  in  stands  in  the 
same  way  as  are  Chrysanthemums,  Dahlias,  and  Hoses.  If  such 
Hollyhock  displays  were  seen  now  they  would  cause  something  like 
a  sensation. 
Named  collections  exist  still,  particularly  in  the  north,  where  the 
disease  does  not  appear  to  have  been  so  virulent  as  in  the  southern 
and  midland  counties.  Whether  it  might  have  been  subdued  if 
Bordeaux  mixture  had  been  discovered  and  systematically  applied  in  the 
early  days  of  the  fungus  visitation  can  never  be  known ;  but  what  is 
known  is  that  it  swept  like  a  scourge  over  the  country  and  practically 
exterminated  the  grand  race  of  double  Hollyhocks.  It  was  noticeable, 
however,  that  where  clumps  of  the  old  rosy  single  forms  were  estab¬ 
lished,  as  in  cottage  gardens,  that  these  to  a  large  extent  escaped,  if 
not  injury,  at  least  destruction.  Whether  this  was  the  result  of  innate 
hardiness,  or  through  being  left  to  “  grow  themselves  ”  in  poor  soil,  is 
not  known;  but  what  is  known  is  this — gardens  have  pre.sented  a  more 
or  less  “  empty  ”  appearance  since  the  stately  and  massive  double 
Hollyhocks  were  driven  away. 
Plants  were  also  raised  from  seeds  in  those  days,  and  the  seedlings 
in  turn  became  infested.  In  all  probability  the  disease  spores  were 
sown  with  the  seed,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  imagine  “  clean  ”  seed  being 
obtainable.  Happily  the  case  is  different  now.  Plants  may  be  seen 
once  more,  and  in  steadily  increasing  numbers  yearly,  raised  from 
seed  and  only  allowed  to  flower  once,  as  biennials,  which  are  free 
from  the  destructive  parasite,  and  the  seed  from  such  plants  is 
“  clean.”  For  decorative  purposes,  then,  Hollyhocks  are  again 
possible  in  our  gardens  by  raising  plants  yearly  from  such  seed 
and  treating  them  as  annuals  or  biennials,  and  this  is  the  cheapest 
of  all  methods  of  25roviding  a  display. 
It  may,  jserhaps,  be  a  “  new  notion  ”  to  some  young  men  to 
suggest  growing  Hollyhocks  as  annuals,  as  they  may  not  have  seen 
them  raised  and  flowered  the  same  year ;  but  this  has  been  so  with 
thousands,  and  they  are  as  worthy  of  being  so  treated — f.e.,  flowered 
and  destroyed — as  are  the  perennial  blue  Lobelias.  In  not  a  few  large 
gardens  in  the  kingdom  Hollyhocks  or  other  flowers  are  even  more 
acceptable  in  the  autumn  than  in  the  summer  for  greeting  the  home¬ 
coming  of  “  the  family”  after  a  few  months  of  absence. 
By  sowing  Hollyhock  seed  in  January,  or  even  perhaps  at  the 
present  time,  very  thinly  in  gentle  warmth  ;  growing  the  seedlings  in 
a  very  light  position  for  keeping  them  sturdy ;  transplanting 
them  3  inches  asunder  in  boxes,  still  maintaining  sturdy 
growth ;  then  when  they  touch  each  other  transferring  them 
to  5-inch  pots,  affording  the  plants  gentle  warmth  for  a  time 
and  much  light ;  eventually  removing  them  to  frames,  they 
will,  under  good  cultural  attention,  be  stout  and  strong  by 
the  time  the  weather  is  mild  enough  for  planting  them  in 
the  open,  without  any  material  risk  of  checks  to  growth 
ensuing.  In  the  absence  of  such  checks,  and  in  good,  deep 
soil,  splendid  plants  and  noble  spikes  of  flowers  will  be  enjoyed 
towards  the  end  of  August  and  throughout  September.  If 
the  roots  are  subsequently  dug  up  and  reduced  to  ashes  the 
plants  will  have  begun  and  ended  their  career  in  one  season, 
or  in  other  words  treated  as  annuals. 
For  flowering  much  earlier  Hollyhocks  must' be  treated  as 
biennials,  which  is  the  easier  way.  In  June  sow  the  seeds 
thinly  in  drills  a  foot  apart  in  the  open  garden  as  if  sowing 
Parsnip  seed  in  March.  Thin  out  quickly  if  necessary  to 
prevent  the  least  crowding.  When  large  enough  transplant 
them  18  inches  asunder  in  an  open  position,  as  if  they  were 
so  many  Strawberries,  and  run  the  hoe  between  them 
frequently.  These  plants  will  probably  stand  the  winter,  and 
may  be  carefully  lifted  and  planted  in  spring  where  they  are 
desired  to  flower,  but  it  is  advisable  to  establish  a  number  in 
pots  in  October,  eventually  plunging  these  over  the  rims  in 
ashes  in  a  cold  frame  for  piassing  the  winter.  By  the 
( xercise  of  sound  judgment  in  watering  and  ventilating,  also 
removing  decaying  parts,  these  plants  will  be  in  the  best  of 
condition  for  jJanting  early  in  April,  or  whenever  the  ground 
and  weather  may  be  suitable  for  the  work  being  done. 
They  will  flower  grandly  in  the  summer. 
Single  Hollyhocks  are  now  represented  in  so  many  colours 
that  they  are  really  very  beautiful  and  highly  worthy  of 
cultivation  in  positions  where  tall  flowering  plants  are 
required  ;  but  doubles  are  still  the  favourites,  and  these  may 
be  grown  from  seed,  and  used  to  be  grown  in  thousands  of 
gardens,  quite  equal  to  those  represented  in  the  photographic 
illustration  kindly  furnished  by  request  of  the  writer  (who 
has  had  many  similar  displays),  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons 
of  Reading.  Hollyhocks  have  been  above  alluded  to  as 
“  old  English  Flowers.”  Althaea  rosea,  the  originator  of  our 
varieties,  is  said  to  have  come  from  China  in  1573.  John 
Parkinson,  in  1629,  records  that  many  single  and  double 
varieties  of  Hollyhocks  were  then  called  “  English  Flowers,” 
as  “having  been  cultivated  in  this  country  for  a  very  long 
time.”  Evidently  the  old  florists  sought  for  and  obtained  improve¬ 
ments  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  original  introduction.  Let 
us  have  more  of  these  stately  flowers  in  our  gardens  again. — 
An  Old  Grower. 
The  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident 
Society.— The  annual  general  meeting  will  take  place  at  the  Cale- 
donial  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  W.C.,  on  Monday,  March  14th, 
1898,  at  8  p.M.  A  special  general  meeting  will  follow,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  advisability  of  altering  the  following  rules,  viz.  : _ 
Rule  8.— Alteration  on  page  9,  line  8  from  the  top,  instead  of  “  £20  ” 
read  “  £30.”  Rule  14. — Page  11,  line  10  from  the  bottom,  after  the 
words  “  lower  scale  ”  add  the  words,  “  with  the  privilege  of  increasing 
this  to.”  Rule  14. — Page  12,  line  14  from  the  top,  the  word  “successive,” 
after  “  twenty-six be  struck  out.  New  rule,  re  Convalescent  Fund,  to 
follow  rule  18,  and  to  be  called  rule  18a,  being  headed — “Voluntary 
Convalescent  Fund. — The  object  of  this  fund  is  to  give  members  a  change 
of  air  during  convalescence.  The  Committee  of  Management  to  have 
power  to  relieve  members  of  this  Society  from  this  voluntary  fund  as  they 
may  deem  advisable.  All  cases  must  be  recommended  by  a  duly  qualifie  ' 
medical  practitioner.” 
