1032. Heliotropium Pcruvianu 



(XK.) 



HELIOTROPILTJI 



{ff. grandiflorum ^ Don), has louger and relatively nar- 

 rower Ivs., which are distinctly narrowed to the base, 

 flower-clusters larger and more open, fls. nearly twice 

 larger and the corolla tube nearly twice Ioniser than the 

 calyx ; calyx teeth longer and narrower. Peru. B.M. 

 1609. Narcissus-scented. Many of the large-trussed and 

 large-flowered garden varieties are apparently of this 

 species rsither than of the former; or possibly the two 

 are hybridized. Originally both species were violet- 

 flowered, but the colors are now in various sh.ades of 

 purple, and there are 

 white-flowered forms. 

 H,Voltalreanuiu,Hort., 

 occurs in our trade- 

 lists. It is a compact 

 garden form, said to be 

 a hybrid. P.M. 16, p. 

 100. Another species, 

 H. Europseum, Linn., is 

 rarely seen in old col- 

 lections, particularly 

 South, and it is spar- 

 ingly naturalized. It is 

 a hoary-downy herb 

 6-18 ill. high, with long- 

 petioled oval Ivs., and 

 white fls. in scirpioid 

 racemes. l H. B. 



The Heliotrope is a 

 ■warmth- and sun-lov- 

 ing plant, preferring a 

 rich, light soil, good 

 drainago and plenty of 

 •water. It needs to be kept growing, and suffers more 

 than many other plants from becoming dry. It wilts 

 easily, and should never be allowed to lack for moisture 

 in soil and air. Quickly becoming pot-bound, it requires 

 frequent shifting. 



The Heliotrope strikes readily from terminal cuttings 

 of the tender shoots in about eight or ten days. Florists 

 root the cuttings in pure sand. Cuttings should have 

 a temperature at night of about 50°, with 5°-10° of 

 bottom heat. They should be kept from flagging by 

 careful watering and shading as needed. When the 

 cuttings have formed roots about half an inch long, they 

 should be transplanted to small pots or shallow boxes 

 of light soil, placed where they will have a night tem- 

 perature of about 60°, sheltered from currents of air, 

 watered and shaded as needed until established. 



The Heliotrope may also be grown readily from seed. 

 These should be sown in shallow flats in light soil, in a 

 temperature of about 65°, covered lightly and kept nicely 

 moist. When well up they may be treated as cuttings. 

 For forcing, the Heliotrope should have a good ex- 

 posure to the sun, a temperature of about 60° at night, 

 rich soil, good drainage and careful watering. The 

 plant is preferably grown in benches in 6 inches of 

 soil. A plant easily covers an 18-inch square. 



In the open ground plants should have a sunny situa- 

 tion and moist soil. Hereit covers aspace2'4 ft. square, 

 and attains a height of 2-3 ft. They should not be set 

 out till danger of spring frosts is past. 



The plant is comparatively free from diseases and in- 

 sect pests. Cuttings and seedlings are sometimes de- 

 stroyed by the damping-ofl: fungi, and under condi- 

 tions of neglect, plants sometimes become infested with 

 mealy-bugs, aphides, or the red-spider. Sometimes 

 plants are ruined by a disease known among florists as 

 the "black rust," an ailment similar to or identical with 

 that affecting the Verbena. It usually appears on plants 

 in an enfeebled condition, resulting from being pot- 

 bound, from sour soil or over-potting, followed by too 

 low temperature, as well as from other causes. Badly 

 diseased plants should be destroyed. Others are some- 

 times benefited by syringings and waterings with fiesh 

 and tolerably strong tobacco tea, in place of tlie usual 

 waterings. Repotting and occasional applications of 

 weak manure water, with perhaps a higher tempera- 

 ture, will also be found helpful. Ernest Walker. 



Apart from its use as a border plant and for bedding, 

 being a universal favorite, it usually forms part of the 

 stock in trade of florists who do a local business, rank- 



HELIPTERUM 



725 



ing next to the Geranium as a pot-plant for spring 

 trade. For cut-flowers in winter it is equally popular, 

 but its lasting qualities when cut are uncertain. Suc- 

 cessful growers assert that for best results, strong 

 stems and good keeping qualities, it should be grown in 

 a moderately cool, airy house. Some of the best the 

 writer has seen were grown in a house suited to violets 

 and mignonette, in which the temperature seldom rose 

 to 50° F. at night. 



Stout, soft cuttings make the best plants, and root 

 easily in a temperature of 60° F. Frwu the time they are 

 inserted, suflicient water must be given to prevent wilt- 

 ing. A propagating bed is not required. Ordinary flats 

 will do — the medium half-leaf soil and sand. They 

 must be well shaded for a week or so. They are very 

 liable to the cutting bench fungus, and should be potted 

 or boxed off as soon as rooted, which should be in ten 

 or twelve days. Any light soil will do, and it need not 

 be rich for the first shift. 



For winter flowers, cuttings may be taken in July and 

 treated as above. Some of the plants among the spring 

 batch with straight stems may be grown along for 

 standards by taking out the side shoots until 2 ft. high. 

 These make handsome drooping specimens. By prun- 

 ing about midsummer they may be kept in good condi- 

 tion for years. Stock intended for spring cuttings is 

 better grown continuously in pots, as the plants lift 

 badly in the autumn. 



The plants do not lift well. The writer prefers to 

 grow a few left-over bedding plants for stock. Cuttings 

 struck in June or July and grown continuously indoors 

 make the best plants for winter flowers. Tall young 

 plants may be grown into standards by taking out the 

 side shoots until they reach 2 or 3 feet in height, and 

 then letting them branch out. Shifted along, they make 

 large specimens in 12-inch pots, and may be kept in 

 good condition for years by judicious pruning, top- 

 dressing and the use of manure water. 



Heliotrope is extensively used as a bedding plant, is 

 a favorite in window-gardens, and is much grown by 

 florists for cut-flowers. The ease with which it may be 

 grown either in pots or the garden, the color and 

 fragrance of its dainty flowers, and the continuity of 

 bloom, have all con- 

 tributed to make it a 

 general favorite. 



There have been 

 numerous garden va- 

 rieties and a number 

 of hybrids — white 

 and the different tints 

 of blue predominat- 

 ing. Floral catalogues 

 rarely mention, how- 

 ever, more than 6-8 

 varieties. Madame 

 de Blonay has for 

 years been a favorite 

 white, while Queen 

 of Violets is perhaps 

 the finest of the 

 blues. Chieftain is a 

 lighter tint. Albert 

 Delaux is a variety 

 with golden varie- 

 gated foliage, but 

 variegated Helio- 

 tropes are undesir- 

 able. Among seed- 

 lings double forms 

 occasionally appear. 

 They have no special 

 merit, and are seldom 

 perpetuated. 



T. D. Hatfield. 

 HELtPTERUM "'^^- Helipf erum Manelesii ( X K) . 

 (Greek for sun and Generally known as Rhodauthe. 



u-iiifi; said to refer 



to the light-plumed pappus). Compositce. Including 

 Acrovliiiium and Bhocldnthe. About 50 species in Au- 

 stralia and S. Africa, of which a few are cult, as ever- 

 lastings or immortelles (see Everlastings). The cult. 



