Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 51 



well-known Pampas Grass of South America, with long grey-green sword- 

 like leaves, 6 ft. or more long, and dense erect silvery-white plumes of 

 flowers borne on stalks 10-12 ft. high. Tufts are sold generally in spring, 

 but the trade is not large. Warm, sheltered, and sunny spots are best 

 for the plants, and each autumn a top-dressing of well -rotted manure 

 will be beneficial. There is a variety roseum with rose-coloured plumes. 

 G. conspicua, the Silvery Reed Grass of New Zealand, is a kind of 

 smaller Pampas Grass worth stocking by hardy- plan tsmen. It grows 

 about 5 ft. high. 



Gypsophila elegans. A charming Caucasian annual, 1-1 J ft. high, with 

 masses of pure-white flowers borne on slender hair-like stems. Seeds are 

 sown in the open air two or three times during the year in the shallow 

 drills about 6 in. apart, chiefly to supply cut flower to the florists. G. viscosa 

 is a soft rose-coloured form also grown. G. paniculata arid its double- 

 flowered variety are the best known of the perennial kinds. They have 

 thick parsnip-like roots, and make dense bushes, 2-3 ft. high, smothered 

 in small white flowers. Used for cut bloom in the same way as G. elegans, 

 and may be increased by division in spring or autumn, or from seeds. 

 Other kinds are G. cerastioides, 3 in., white, from the Himalayas, and 

 G. repens, 4 in., rosy white. 



Haberlea rhodopensis. A charming Eamondia-like plant, 4-8 in. high, 

 with flat tufts of coarsely-toothed leaves, and umbels of pale-lilac bell- 

 shaped drooping flowers in summer. The plants like a peaty soil in cool 

 shaded positions, and are essentially rock plants. They may be increased 

 by seeds and careful division. 



Helenium. Easily grown plants of the Sunflower family, flourishing in 

 any garden soil and in open sunny spots, and easily increased by division 

 in autumn or spring. The best kinds are autumnale, 4-6 ft., pure yellow, 

 several varieties, of which " Riverton Gem ", " Riverton Beauty ", and 

 " Gartensonne " are the very best; Bolanderi, 2 ft., yellow, with a dark 

 centre; Hooperi, 2-3 ft., bright orange; nudiflorum (or grandicephalum 

 striatum), 3-4 ft., deep orange yellow striped and blotched with crimson; 

 pumilum, 1 ft., soft yellow. These all flower freely, and are valuable for 

 cut flowers during the summer months. H. Bigelovi is a fine Californian 

 species, about 4 ft. high, with large yellow flowers having a deep red- 

 brown centre. 



Helianthus (SUNFLOWER). There are annual and perennial species of 

 Sunflower, but very few are grown extensively for market. The best 

 perennial kind is H. rigidus (formerly known as Harpalium). This grows 

 3-5 ft. high, has roughish purple stems, and yellow flower heads about 

 3 in. across with a darker centre. Until its fine variety "Miss Hellish '', 

 with taller stems, larger and brighter yellow flowers, made its appearance, 

 H. rigidus was often grown as a catch crop in any out-of-the-way part of 

 the garden for cut flowers in late July and August. The variety is a much 

 better plant, but to get the best results the snake's-head-like rhizomes 

 should be planted at least 1 ft. apart. Once established, the plants look 



