124 HESPERIS 



HES'PERIS continued. 



To grow H. tristis sow the seeds in chinks of 

 old walls in April to July; or in groups in the 

 border where they are to grow in June to 

 September to flower the following year. 



Those in the border should be mulched in May 

 or June, the double varieties requiring a little 

 liquid manure in summer. 



HIBIS'CUS (from L. hibiscum, the mallow). Nat. Ord. 

 Malvaceae. 



This is a very large family, but mostly shrubs 

 and herbaceous perennials (one of which, H. 

 Manihot, is treated in this climate as a half-hardy 

 annual), while two are strictly hardy annuals. 

 The latter are well worth growing and distinctly 

 pleasing. 



H. africa'nus ma'jor, or Black-eyed Susan, grows 

 about 2 ft. high. It is an erect growing plant, 

 having showy Mallow-like flowers 1 J ins. across 

 of pale primrose yellow with a dark centre of 

 rich purple maroon. They, however, only 

 expand to their full extent in bright sunny 

 weather. It is best in a light sandy soil. 

 The flowering season is June to the end of 

 September. From Africa in 1826. 



H. Man'ihot, or Australian Manihoc, always treated 

 as a half-hardy annual, and then not often very 

 successfully, being a difficult plant to deal with. 

 It is a handsome plant reaching 3 or 4 ft. in 

 height, with large blossoms about 3 ins. across 



