Evening star., 1940-06-22
Hollyhock
Stays in
Favor
Snowy Blossoms
And Fine Height
Are Appealing
BY AGNES TRINIBLE.

The hollyhock, Althaea roses, an
old-fashioned flower, still retains its
place in most gardens-it should be
even more widely used. This plant
has a dignified appearance; 1t stands
erect and is imposing-perhaps due
to Its floral pride in being one of
the Oldest Of cultivated flowers.
This old favorite was first found
in China by the earliest recorded
European travellers to that coun-
try. Growing in its wild state, it
was found to be of many colors
and forms"
Its snowy blossoms now bursting
forth in all of their extravagant
glory attract much attention and
are even more appreciated because
of the lull in the Towering of most
other plants at this particular time.
It's beauty and its easy cultivation
In all parts of the United States
make for its continued popularity
1t grows very tall, from to 8 feet
high or more-but the height can
be controlled by nipping out the
top buds.
Its bright, wide-spreading flowers
are to inches in diameter, with
separate rosehke petals. They come
In various shades-whites, pinks Of
many hues, reds and purples and
a deep maroon which Is often de-
scribed as black. There Is a yellow,
too, which is considered the newest
color and is also the least likely
to come true from seed.
Bees have a wonderful as well as
lazy time dining in the blossoms
Each flower has such an abundance
Of pollen that the bee eats his fill
usually from one plant without 60
ing to others and then goes home
perfectly satisfied It his prevents
much cross fertilization.
Seeds should be planted In June
and July to insure good blooming
plants for next spring. Seeds germi-
nate quickly-5 to 10 days. Often
the sowing of seed Is neglected
we depend upon the plants to re-
seed themselves, which is all right
for a time, but they soon deteriorate
the double blossoms become sin
gle, and the single blossoms become
smaller, and all become faded and
washed-out looking.
Plant seeds in clay soil and not
in sandy or dry soil. Where there
Is plenty Of surface soil water the
seedlings will have strong side tap
roots, but If the soil is too dry or
too wet there is apt to be only one
or two main roots and many fibrous
surface roots. When resetting the
plants in the spring especial care
must be taken to place the large.
strong roots so they will extend
downward into the earth, with the
crown just barely below the surface.
It is advisable to mulch well be-
tween and around these new plants,
but lightly.
Hollyhocks may also be propa-
gated In the spring by placing a
plant In sand deep enough to cover
the crown of the root, which will
then send out lot of little suckers,
and these can be removed and root
ed for new plants.
This sturdy plant does not mix
well with many Of its fellow flow-
ers, because its foliage neither re-
sembles nor contrasts with them.
The hollyhock leaves are coarse and
heavy looking-the plants beauty
lies In its gay and individual blooms
interspersed among It's palmlike-
shaped leaves up and down the
Arm stalk-large leaves at the bot
tom and gradually diminishing all
the way up.
Hollyhock rust (Puccinia mall
vaceaerum) may often be avoided
If good cultural conditions are pro-
vided-deep, well-drained soil, cor
rect placement Of tap roots, with
the crown in the proper place in
reference to soil surface.