303 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



4. Ammobium. 



Ammobium altum derives its varietal name from the broadly- winged branches 

 which give it a distinctive appearance as a plant. The flowers are rather small and 

 for that reason less valuable than the three former, and, since there are several to a 

 branch, it is more difficult to cut the Ammobmm at the right stage for drying. When 

 cut at the right stage they may, however, be used to good advantage to mix in with 

 other ' Everlastings.' The flowers are silvery-white, about three-quarters of an inch 

 across, and somewhat like a small daisy. The plant is rather straggling in habit of 

 growth. 



5. Helipterum. 



Helipterum Sandfordi is the least attractive of the ' Everlastings.' It is bright 

 yellow in colour and in habit of growth somewhat resembles a dwarf type of ' Golden- 

 rod.' It is useful for mixing in with the other ' Everlastings.' Height, about one 

 foot. 



6. Gomphrenas. 



The Gomphrenas are also ' Everlastings ' and the only ones possessing a com- 

 mon name. They are known as ' Globe Amaranths,' and are to be had in about six 

 colours, the most attractive of which are rosea, rubra and av.rea superba. The flowers 

 are globular in form and rather stiff-looking. Plants grow about one foot high. They 

 are quite tender to frosts. As a greenhouse plant they do very well. 



Botanical Note. — All of the above plants, with the exception of the last one, 

 belong to the Compositse. They are all natives of either South Africa or Australia. 

 The genus Helichrysum contains several hundred species, but only those noted are 

 of commercial value. Rhodanthe, Acroeliniums and Ammobiums are included in the 

 genus Helipterum and have received these special horticultural names on account of 

 the marked differences in the habits of the plants. The Ammobmm is a sand-loving 

 plant from Australia. 



The Globe Amaranths (Gomphrena globosa) belong to the family Amarantaceae, 

 and are also sometimes called, with other plants, Bachelor's Buttons. The showy 

 bracts hide the true flowers. 



Xeranthemum and other Everlastings. 



Note. — The well-known Xeranthemums (French Immortelles) are under test this 

 year (1913) and promise to take a high place in the list of everlastings. Several of 

 ihe ornamental grasses which may be used with good effect with most of the ever- 

 lastings are also included in the 1913 trials. Other ' Everlastings,' including the 

 native ' Pearly Everlasting ' and ' Cudweed,' while not possessing commercial value, 

 are sometimes grown. Such are under observation and if any are found worthy will 

 be reported on later 



Notes on Culture. — The seed of these plants was sown in flats about the middle 

 of April and the young plants p\it out the first week in June. By July 21, most were 

 in flower and they continued to bloom till early in November, the Heliclirysvms with- 

 stood several degrees of frost. Seed may also be sown in the open ground the latter 

 part of May. In such cases, the plants will not bloom till about the first week of 

 August. The plants should be thinned out to about six inches apart. 



