HELIOTROPE. 



166 



in winter, to be jjlanted out again in 

 spring. The soil should be a com- 

 post of loam and peat. They are 

 generally increased by seeds, -which 

 they ripen in abundance. 



HELIA'^"THUS. — Co??y>ostV fc.--The 

 Sun-flower. — The annual plant of this 

 name, though a native of Peru, is one 

 of the hardiest of its kind, as it only 

 requires sowing in the open border in 

 any common garden-soil. It is not, 

 however, suitable for every situation, 

 unless there be abundance of room, 

 on account of the large size of its 

 stalks and leaves. The perennial 

 kinds are much smaller, and very 

 ornamental ; they are quite hardy, 

 and will grow in an y soil and situation. 



Helichrt\sum. — CompositcE. — 

 The Everlasting. — The common yel- 

 low Everlasting, H. bracteatum, is a 

 hardy annual that only requires sow- 

 ing in the open border ; H. hlcolor 

 is a very slight vai'iety, merely diff- 

 ering in having the outer petals tipped 

 with copper colour ; but H. macran- 

 thum has white flowers tipped with 

 pink, and is very handsome. This 

 species is a native of the Swan River 

 Colony, and it should be grown in a 

 light peaty soil. It may either be 

 sown in the open groxmd in April, to 

 flower in autumn, or in a hotbed in 

 February, to plant out in May. 



Helico'kia. — MusacecB. — Splen- 

 did hothouse plants, Avhich requii-e 

 a rich sandy loam, and plenty of 

 room and heat, to biing them to 

 perfection. They are propagated 

 by division of the root. 



Helio'phila. — Cruciferce. — 

 Beautiful little annual plants, na- 

 tives of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 generally with Ijlue flowers, and 

 very long slender stems. The seeds 

 should be sown on a hotbed in 

 February, and the plants planted 

 out in a warm open situation in May. 



Heliotrope. — See Heliotro'- 



Heliotro'pidm. Borafj'mecc. 



— The Heliotrope is a favourite 

 flower in most countries, from its 

 fragrance, which, however, is over- 

 powering, and very unpleasant to 

 those not accustomed to strong per- 

 fumes. It should be grown in a 

 light rich soil ; and though it re- 

 quires protection during winter, it 

 may be planted out in May, when 

 it will flower splendidly in the open 

 air, till destroyed by frost in au- 

 tumn. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which strike easily. A new species 

 of Heliotrope has been lately in- 

 troduced, called H. Voltaireanum, 

 which has very rich dark purple 

 flowers. It reqrdres the same 

 treatment as the old kind. 



Helix. — The Snail. — Snails are 

 so destructive to gardens, and par- 

 ticularly to those of small size, that 

 too much care cannot be taken to 

 destroy them. The best time for 

 effecting this is in winter or early 

 spring, when the snails are in a 

 quiescent state, and when they will 

 be found in great numbers sticking 

 to the v/alls, under ivy, &c. ; in 

 box-edgings ; or in the crevices of 

 rock-work, &c. In spring, the 

 warmth and moisture induce them 

 to leave their hiding-places, and 

 they commence their work of de- 

 struction. At this season, they 

 should be sought for in the daytime, 

 in the same kind of places as those 

 they select for their winter retreats, 

 and, if possible, destroyed before 

 they lay their eggs, which they do 

 in April or May. The eggs, which 

 are buried in the eaith in some 

 rather moist and shady place, and 

 which are whitish, and quite round 

 and transparent, should be sought 

 for and destroyed in May or June. 

 By these means the ravages of 

 snails may be in a great measure 

 prevented ; and there will be no 

 occasion to resort to watering the 



