60 THE HOME FLORIST. 



part of May, to a foot apart in the garden. By removing the cottony husk which envelopes the 

 seed, it will germinate more freely. For drying, do not pick before they are of full size, 

 which will be in August or September. Gomphrenas are also well adapted for pot culture in 

 summer, flowering nearly as freely as in the open ground ; for this purpose the soil should be 

 rich, and no lack of water allowed. 



GOLD DUST SHRUB AUCUBA JAPONICA (Greenhouse Perennial, 30, 45, 8f). 

 A beautiful pot plant, prized for its attractive foliage; the leaves, which are large and 

 smooth, are deep green and exquisitely blotched or speckled with golden yellow. The plant 

 is almost hardy, and will thrive under the most ordinary culture ; very desirable in the win- 

 dow, conservatory or for summer decoration in pots. 



GRASSES FOR DRYING (Annuals and Biennials). 



The varieties of these, though, of course, not brilliant, are interesting in the garden and 

 desirable for cutting with flowers in summer ; but they are particularly valuable to use with the 

 everlasting flowers for the formation of winter bouquets, wreaths and other ornaments. For 

 this purpose they should be cut in a green state and dried in the shade. 



Agrostis Nebulosa, most elegant ornamental grass ; fine and feathery ; very delicate. Briza 

 Maxima, one of the best of the ornamental grasses ; perfectly hardy ; sow in the open ground 

 any time in spring. Briza Minor, very small and pretty; sow early. Bromus Briz&fonnis is 

 much like Briza Maxima, but is only useful the second summer after sowing. Coix Lachryma 

 (Job's Tears), this grass is of no value for drying to be used in the formation of winter bouquets, 

 but is grown for its wonderful bead-like seeds. These are hard as glass, possessing a 

 glazed surface, and each seed is naturally punctured with a hole which admits of their being 

 strung upon a thread, like beads. Not brilliant, but interesting and easily grown. Langurus 

 Ovatus (Hare's Tail Grass), showy head; excellent. Stipa Pennata (Feather Grass), a most 

 useful and exceedingly graceful and handsome grass for winter bouquets, flowering the second 

 season. The rows should be distinctly labeled ; the grass so nearly resembling ordinary grass 

 that it would be in danger of being hoed out, unless guarded by some means. 



GYMNOSTACHYUM (Greenhouse Perennial, 38, jjT, 90). 



Beautiful pot plants for the conservatory or for Fernery culture in the window, with smooth 

 leaves, richly painted with reticulations, in marks, which vary from red to rich pink on a deep 

 green ground. A warm, damp, shady place suits them best. 



GYPSOPHILA MURALIS (Hardy Annual). 



A free flowering, graceful little plant for the garden. It is readily grown from the seed, and 

 bears very small rose-colored flowers on many delicate stems, which gives to it an exceedingly 

 light, airy appearance, somewhat resembling the seeds of some grasses. 



HANGING BASKET, VASE AND TRELLIS PLANTS. Select list, page 18. 



HELIANTHUS SUN FLOWER (Hardy Annual). 



A well known genus of rather coarse, large flowering plants for the garden, which can be 

 rendered useful in mixed collections of tall growing Ricinus, Cannas, etc., in beds in the back 

 ground. There are double and single varieties, all of which may be grown with the greatest 

 ease by sowing the seed where they are to bloom. 



HELICHRYSUM EVERLASTING FLOWER (Hardy Annual). 



Everlasting flowers of great merit for winter bouquets and other indoor decorations, as well 

 as for their beauty in the flower garden in summer. There are several beautiful and even bril- 

 liant colors and shades, including dark purple, yellow, orange, white, bright rose, some of which 

 are not common to the other families of everlastings, while with being very double they should 

 not be overlooked by the cultivator who is seeking kinds suitable for drying. Cut the flowers 

 before they are fully expanded, and also cure some of the buds, which make up beautifully, 

 and are desirable for variety. The young plants transplant readily, and the seed may be sown 

 in the hot-bed or in the house in April, setting the seedlings at a distance of a foot apart. 



HELIOTROPE (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, jo, 8f). 



An important plant either for pot culture in the winter or bedding out. The flowers, which 

 are produced freely, are prized for their attractive light violet color a color rare among choice 

 flowers but, above all, for the delicious vanilla-like scented odor emitted, which has given it a 

 reputation above every other fragrant flowering plant that can be managed to produce bloom 

 during the entire year. The plants make a rapid growth in the open air and bear an immense 

 number of flowers until frost. For winter blooming in the window or conservatory it is best 

 to start with young plants the spring previous, or some propagated from young shoots in June or 

 July will do well and make large strong plants by the first of October, provided they have 

 been brought along in rich soil ; the plants never having become badly root-bound before they re- 

 ceived a shift into larger pots ; and always amply supplied with water. During winter give them 

 the most sunny exposure that can be afforded, provided it is sufficiently warm, as they will not 

 thrive in much shade. Wash the foliage occasionally and see that no red spider attacks the 



