STEVIAS AXD EUPATORIUMS HELIOTROPES. 197 



in themselves, but admirably adapted from their feathery- 

 like sprays, for mixing in with bright-colored flowers. 

 They are of easy propagation, and being of rampant 

 growth, had better always be grown in pots throughout 

 the summer plunging the pots to the rim in the usual 

 way, to save watering. They can all be grown to flower 

 iii a low greenhouse temperature, and as many of them 

 bloom rather early in the winter, every expedient is used 

 to keep them as cold as possible, without freezing. 



Stevia compacta and Stevia compacta nana, very 

 dwarf, flower during November; Stevia serrata and 

 Stevia serrata folia variegata flowers rather denser than 

 the green-leaved variety and beautiful when grown as a 

 specimen greenhouse plant ; both flower in December. 

 We have just obtained a dwarf kind of this variegated 

 variety, which will prova valuable for white ribbon-line 

 planting. 



Eupatorium arbor eum flowers from November to Jan- 

 uary, by retarding portions in cold frames ; Eupatorium 

 salicifolium flowers throughout January ; Eupatorium 

 elegans from February to March. The flowers rate at 

 about the same price as Bouvardias. 



HELIOTROPES. 



The manner of growing the Heliotrope for winter 

 flowers is nearly identical with that for the Stevia or Eu- 

 patorium, during the summer months ; only, like the 

 Bouvardia, it requires heat to bring the flowers out in 

 profusion in winter. The varieties best adapted for forc- 

 ing are : White Lady, nearly white ; The Queen, violet 

 white eye ; Negro, blackish purple ; Birnie, lavender, 

 richly fragrant. 



The Heliotrope flowers without intermission during 

 the entire season, if kept growing. Flowers average 

 about $1 per hundred. 



