Mathiola

This genus was, until lately, united with the wall-flower, under the generic name Cheiranthus. Some of the following are species, but others only very distinct varieties.

M. Acaulis

(Stemless Stock.) Hardy annual. Red. Flowers in June.

M. Alpina

(Alpine Stock.) Hardy evergreen. Yellow. May.

M.annua

(Ten-week Stock.) Hardy annual. Various colours. August. Many varieties.

M. Coronopifolia

Hardy biennial. Purple. June.

M.fenestralis

Hardy biennial. Purple. July.

M. Glabrata

Half-hardy evergreen. White. August.

M. Groeca

Hardy annual. White. August.

M. Helvetica

(Swiss Stock.) Hardy evergreen. Yellow. June.

M. Incana

(Brompton and Twickenham Stock.) Hardy evergreen shrub. Crimson. August. Many varieties.

M. Livida

Hardy annual. Purple. July.

M. Longipetala

Hardy annual. Red. June.

M.maritima

(Virginia Stock.) Hardy annual. Red and white. June.

M. Mutabilis

(Changeable Stock.) Green-house evergreen. Yellow and purple. May.

M. Odoratissima

Green-house evergreen. Crimson. June.

M. Oxyceras

Hardy annual. Crimson. July.

M. Parviflora

Hardy annual. Purple. July.

M. Purpurea

Half-hardy evergreen. Purple. August.

M. Sicula

Hardy biennial. Lilac. July.

M. Simplicicaulis

Hardy biennial. Purple or white. July.

M. Sinuata

Hardy biennial. Red. July.

M. Tartarica

Hardy biennial. Red. or yellow. July.

M. Tenella

(Five-leaved Stock.) Hardy annual. Brown. July.

M.tortuosa

Green-house evergreen. Purple. July.

M. Tricuspidata

Hardy annual. Purple. July.

M. Tristis, M. Varia

(Night-smelling or Dark-flowered Stock.) Greenhouse evergreen. Crimson. June.

Sowing Annuals

Best time, end of August, in pans filled with a soil of equal parts peat and loam, and placed in a cold frame; water frequently; when they have got six leaves prick singly into pots three inches and a half diameter, in same kind of soil. Keep in frames through the winter, and shelter from frost. Remove without disturbing the roots into beds and borders, at the end of May.

Spring sowings in May, June, and July, will succeed the autumn sown; if sown in a hot-bed during April, they will be nearly as forward as the autumn sown, but not bloom so strong.

Sowing Biennials

This may be done in any moderately rich border in June; to be transplanted where they are to remain, when of a moderate size.

Cuttings may be planted in May, of any very good double variety, cutting them off with a portion of the stem's bark, in a shady border, watering, and covering with a hand-glass until established. Select robust shoots of the same year's growth; strip off the leaves from the bottom half of their length. Water frequently, and by September they will form dwarf bushy plants. I know of no means of promoting the production of double flowers, except applying abundance of liquid manure so soon as the flower buds appear. The weakest seedlings are most likely to produce double flowers.