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HEDYCHIUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



HELENIt'M. 



word should be said for Tree Ivies, which 

 make fine bushes in the garden, and may 

 be associated with other shrubs in beds. 

 Healthy plants make dense rounded 

 heads of foliage, relieved during the 

 blooming season with many flowers. By 

 far the most important Ivies, however, 

 are the green - leaved forms, many, 

 various, and nearly all beautiful in form. 

 Whatever kinds among these we may 

 prefer, a fuller and more graceful use of 

 the Ivy in or near the flower- 

 garden and its surround- 

 ings is desirable. 



HEDYCHIUM. H. 

 Gardneriamtin, though 

 usually grown in the green- 

 house, will flower out-of- 

 doors, and live through 

 an ordinary winter with a 

 little protection. It should 

 be planted out in May, in 

 a loose sandy loam, en- 

 riched with manure. While 

 the plant is making its 

 growth a mulching should 

 be given, and in dry 

 weather an occasional 

 watering of liquid manure. 

 It is excellent for choice 

 groups in the sub-tropical 

 garden, in warm sheltered 

 spots. A heap of cinders 

 or half-rotten leaves laid 

 over the crowns in winter 

 will ensure their safety ; or 

 the roots may be lifted in 

 autumn and wintered in 

 any dry place with Dahlias 

 and Cannas. It is in- 

 creased by dividing the 

 roots in spring, but each 

 piece must have a young 

 crown attached. 



HED YSARUM (French 

 Honeysuckle}. Plants of 

 the Pea order, mostly 

 weedy, only a few peren- 

 nials being ornamental. 

 H. coronarium is a showy 

 plant, 3 or 4 ft. high, bearing in summer 

 dense spikes of red flowers. It grows in 

 any ordinary soil, but is not a perennial, 

 though it usually sows itself where it is 

 established. There is a white variety. 

 Among the dwarfer kinds the two following 

 are desirable : H. obscurum, a brilliant and 

 compact perennial ; 6 to 12 in. high, with 

 racemes of showy purple flowers. It is 

 suitable for the rock-garden, for borders, 

 and for naturalisation amongst vegetation 

 not more than i ft. high, chiefly on banks 



and slopes in sandy loam, and is increased 

 by division or seed. H. Mackenzii is 

 said to be the handsomest of the genus. 

 It grows about 2 ft. high, and has long 

 racemes of from seven to thirty rather 

 large rosy-purple Pea-like flowers. It is 

 perfectly hardy in any situation, and 

 flowers in June and July. It is rather too 

 tall for the rock-garden, and is more 

 suited for the mixed border. 

 HELENIUM (Sneeze-weed]. Vigorous 



Pyramid of large-leaved Ivy, 7 it. high. 



Composites from North America, flowering 

 in autumn, and thriving in any soil, and, 

 where rightly used, excellent plants. 

 There are two or three species, the most 

 useful being H. autumnale, about 6 ft. 

 high, bearing yellow flower-heads. The 

 varieties grandiceps and pumilum are very 

 distinct : grandiceps being of gigantic 

 growth with a fasciated head of bloom, 

 which makes it very showy ; pumilum 

 being much dwarfer and better than the 

 type. H. atropurpureum grows 3 or 4 ft. 



