Back to hollyhocks... Why, after there were so many varieties in the early 1800s, was Burpee only offering one?
I suspect it was the rust. We'll have to see. The article from Great Britain below gives insight into the disruption caused by rust.
It really is sad, and pathetic!
FEW if any subject just now is meriting so much public attention as that which heads this article. It is interesting to review the gradual progress of the revival and improvement of the Hollyhock.
About forty-five years ago the first selection of improved and named varieties were introduced to the public by the late William Chacer of The Nurseries, Saffron Walden. There were very few growers of the Hollyhock at that time. Mr. Charles Barron, also of Saffron Walden, had a passion for the flower, and by following a course of culture dictated by his own observation and experience originated those flowers which laid the foundation for other cultivators to work upon. From 1846 to 1874, a period of nearly thirty years, the Hollyhock advanced by leaps and bounds until it reached the ideal of perfection, when, unfortunately, the darkest cloud in its history appeared in the form of a parasitic fungus known to mycologists by the name Puccinia malvacearum.
In some places the attacks of this fungus were so severe and its ravages so great that the cultivation of Hollyhocks was abandoned altogether, and for a period of nearly fifteen years the plant has been practically lost to cultivation. There has been, however, a little knot of enthusiasts who have stood faithfully by the Hollyhock during the term of its eclipse, and now that it is emerging from the darkness they are more enthusiastic than ever. These men have not spent all their time in nursing their favourite flower. They have been equally busy in raising new and improved varieties, and although many of the grand old sorts have been destroyed these later introductions are equally fitted to fill their place; indeed, some of those raised in the north are a great advance on anything we have ever seen. But no sooner are we raising the Hollyhock to its former popular position than we find others ready to throw cold water on the work.
Of all the florists' flowers we are acquainted with the Hollyhock is perhaps the most abused, and I am sorry to record the fact that trade growers seem to be the least aware of it. They do not seem to take any trouble in their selection. Quantity, not quality, is the ideal. This has led to a great confusion of the sorts in cultivation, the majority of which are of no use for exhibition, although sent out with a wonderful recommendation. It is with the object of raising the Hollyhock to a higher position, and representing it in its true character, that I have taken in hand an election of varieties; and it is not without much trouble that I am able to place before the readers of this Journal a revised list of the bast exhibition Hollyhocks now in cultivation. I have admitted nothing but what can be authenticated by the raiser's name, and for the cordial assistance I have received in getting this information I avail myself of this opportunity of tendering my warmest thanks.
In the returns and lists before me I have over 400 varieties of named Hollyhocks, a fact which I daresay will astonish most of the growers at the present day, as very few indeed seem to grow more than three dozen varieties which are considered by them admissible for exhibition. There will be undoubtedly a few more good sorts in cultivation which I am not yet acquainted with. These will be admitted as soon as they have been proved here. The majority of Hollyhocks enumerated in trade lists and sent out at the present time are a disgrace to the trade. Where or by whom they have been raised it will be difficult to know, as so many of them are also under wrong names. It is, however, interesting to notice so many of the fine varieties raised by the late Mr. Chater still to the front. How these have been preserved it is difficult to say, while those of equally true quality, raised by such noted growers as Messrs. Paul, Pearson, Bircham, Bragg, Boake, Downie & Co., and others have been lost. We have, however, two or three of Downie & Co.'s still in cultivation, notably F. G. Dougall, one of the very best where the true variety is to be had. To place the varieties enumerated ia this list in order of merit would be invidious on my part. I have therefore placed them in position according to the number of votes received ; some of the new varieties will undoubtedly take a higher place when more largely distributed.
Grace Darling, which heads the list, is first favourite in nearly all the returns, followed closely by Bobert Byle, another grand flower, with every good property. John Finlay, sent out last year, is already a great favourite, and a decided acquisition. Lord Dacies, a seedling from Sanspareil, is ofequally fine form and distinct in colour. Maggie Bain is a magnificent variety, a colour by itself, so to speak, of a most pleasing shade. Of pure whites we have no advance on Alba Superba, and for a bright yellow we have seen nothing to equal Queen of the Yellows or Golden Drop. The same may be said of F. G. Dougall as a purple ; we have as yet nothing to take its place. Cheer is a fine variety and distinct in colour, a leading characteristic in all Mr. Thompson's seedlings. Indeed, the first three dozen at least are all of the finest quality. To preserve these and raise new and improved varieties is a work which I hope will be taken up by many who have hitherto been led to look upon the Hollyhock as a thing of the past.
Seedling raising is undoubtedly one of the greatest pleasures in floriculture. The daily hope of the unfolding of some inestimable gem is always stronger than the constantly recurring disappointment as some fair bud of more than average promise slowly reveals its fault.
The Hollyhock, like many other florists' flowers, is a plant that has been taken into high and special cultivation, because of the tendency it exhibits to vary from the seed in form, colour, size, and habit; and although it is often asserted that the flowers represent themselves true from seed I have never been able to verify this assertion. Some trade growers raise a quantity of their stock from seed, believing that both colour and form will be retained. This has undoubtedly led to so many varieties being under wrong names. List year, for instance, I had seedlings from Purple Prince not one having any resemblance to the parent; the majority were pure white, blush, &c. I merely mention this to show what variety may be expected from the thoughtful selection by cultivators out of the countless types and offers of variety constantly afforded. The Hollyhock has gradually become endowed with nearly every delicate shade and point of beauty which it does so richly possess. It may appear ungrateful to assert that in connection with colour the florist's requirements are as yet far from being satisfied.
It is true that, taken in the aggregate, flowers present us with every colour and shade of colour which can be found in nature; but are there not some amongst us who would fain discern each and every of these lovely tints exemplified in each and every species of flower? So much has already been achieved by industry that we must not fix a limit to the results of zeal, patience, and perseverance.
The nearest approach to scarlet shows at once how much a Hollyhock of that colour would be prized. Seed saved from flowers of the most advanced properties fertilised with pollen from flowers possessing such characteristics as we desire to develop or perpetuate is sure to throw out soma novelty. I would impress upon all, especially amateurs, the necessity of saving their own seed. The best flowers are invariably saved from home-saved seed. Flowers produced from foreign seed are very coarse and thin as a rule. It is from gardeners and amateurs that we have got the finest flowers in recent years, and to them we must, I am afraid, be still indebted, for very few trade growers indeed seem to take an interest in theHollyhock, at least with the view of improving the flower.
The disease no doubt frightens many from investing in the work, but we now have this pest so much in hand that plants are grown comparatively free from fungus. Because the fungus still exists, and probably ever will exist to a certain extent, it is no worse than any other fungoid pests which florists have to contend with. Nor does it attack the plants in the same virulent manner as it did when first introduced. Soot is valuable; quicklime is also a great enemy to all the fungus tribe; and when the ground is thoroughly dressed with these it will kill any spores of fungus that may be resting in the ground; and where plants are treated as advised in a recent issue of the Journal I think there will be no fear of success.—Geo. Steel, F.E.H.S., Heatherslaw,Cornhill-on-Tweed.
Later in the same magazine was this article. George Finlat was undaunted by rust!
EXHIBITION HOLLYHOCKS.
All growers and lovers of this grand plant, the Hollyhock, must feel a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. G. Steel for the great trouble he has voluntarily taken upon himself in trying, and I hope with success, to clear up a subject which is of vital importance to all persons interested in the exhibition of Hollyhock blooms—viz., a determination to have none but the true variety the purchaser asks for. I have repeatedly seen purchasers served with plants under the name required, but when the plants unfolded their flowers the greatest disappointment ensued, as they turned out to be worthless varieties. I suggest that vendors as well as buyers try and put a stop to this not very commendable practice, as it would do away with much uncertainty and vexation. I have often heard it said, and I have also read, that the Hollyhock has deteriorated of late years. I have had letters from all parts of England, Scotland, and Wales asking me the same questions. My answers to all have been the same—-viz., " No ; not at all," as many of the older varieties are still to the fore. I would like to ask the veteran growers which were their best varieties, and see if some of us do not possess the true sorts.
I have been familiar with the Hollyhock for at least twenty-five years, and I can truly say if memory serves me rightly that I have grown and shown better Hollyhock blooms for the last eight or ten years than I remember having seen twenty years ago. If any of your readers saw the display of cut blooms at the Newcastle-uponTyne autumn Show in 1887, better known as the Jubilee Exhibition, when twelve stands of twenty-four were staged for competition, they must, I think, admit there has not been much deterioration. I consider only the first and second-prize collections were good, my own and Mr. A. Rogeraon's respectively. After those two stands the quality of the blooms gradually dwindled down to specimens about as large as G lobe A sters. Take again the Newcastle autumn Show of 1889 ; there were not quite so many competitors, but the blooms were decidedly better than in 1887. I believe Mr. Jas. Douglas judged the cut flowers in both years. What has he to say respecting them? It has been a greater difficulty to procure really good sorts than it has been to cope with the disease.
It may appear somewhat egotistical on my part to relate in these columns my own success as a Hollyhock exhibitor, but why I do so is that it may be an incentive to others. I have exhibited during the last ten years all over the country, including the Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Alnwick, and many other places about ninety-four standsof blooms, and my record is ninety-one first prizes, two seconds, and one third. It will thus be seen I ought at least to know something ofgood exhibition sorts.
I will now give a few remarks about Mr. Steel's list. I may state, as he does, that some far down the list will before long take a higher position ; for instance, W. E. Gladstone and Mr. Fenwick will, I presume, nearly head the list when distributed. Mr. Steel has Grace Darling at the top, which position it has great claim to, but my opinion is that Queen of the Yellows in perfection is the finest variety in cultivation. Peri is the only white I know worth growing.
In conclusion, I will name what I consider the best twelve sorts—viz.,
Grace Darling,
Queen of Yellows,
Robert Ryle,
William Ewart Gladstone,
John Finlay,
Maggie Bain,
Mrs. Maynard,
Favourite,
Ruby Queen,
Agnes Ryle,
Peri, and
Le Grande.
To add to this another twelve I would say have F. G. Dougall, Lord Decies, Leviathan, Hercules, Venus, Mrs. Codling, Pride of Layton, Walden Queen, Conquest, Majestic. Thomas Fenwick, and Champion. These, if true to name and well grown, would almost be unsurpassable on the exhibition table. I urge upon exhibitors not to strive so much for a large collection, but to form only a well chosen selection. The same applies to all other kinds of florists' flowers besides Hollyhocks. It is better to grow several plants of one variety than so many of a worthless or inferior type. Those who would like to grow Hollyhocks must not be deterred by the fungus, for by careful management this can be kept at bay. Cut the plants down as soon as they have finished flowering in the autumn, the earlier the better, cover them with light soil about 2 inches deep ; they will soon be seen to push through the soil fresh and clear of disease. I may in a future note have something to say about my mode of cultivation. — George Finlat, East Layton Ball Gardens, Darlington.
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