42 THE GARDEN 



diameter at the base; an incli from base to summit; and under- 

 neatb the base a fringed green mat, whose curving points give a softening 

 look to the whole flower. These flowers are borne singly on long, hair-like 

 stems of two feet high, and the plant sends up dozens and dozens of them. 

 Indeed, there are more flowers than leaves. 



The colors are snow-white, purple, pink, yellow, lavender, and one 

 variety produces the loveliest dark, velvety maroon, flecked here and there 

 with tiny specks of white. Examination shows these specks to be the 

 white stamens protruding from the florets. 



No insects, no mold, no blight, no "anything" to cause a blemish to 

 the beauty of the plant! A prettier bouquet flower, because of the grace- 

 ful long stems; and the fact that the blossom does not wither for many, 

 many days after being picked. 



In some localities it is called "flea-bane," because the old folk kept 

 It in their old gardens for the one purpose of keeping away the fleas! 

 About this latter truth we cannot say one word. 



Simply sow the seeds in spring in open ground; thin out the plants 

 when they have grown a suitable size; and give a glance of attention once 

 in a while. Then, later, pick all the flowers you wish. 



We have just read in an old book that the name "mourning bride," or 

 "mournful widow," came from the fact that in Europe this flower is a 

 favorite in funeral wreaths. 



SUNFLOWERS 



The old-fashioned, large-flowered sunflower has grown to be almost 

 entirely neglected of late years. Why, we do not know. 



A sunflower is a curious thing to watch — and an educational thing to 

 watch, as well. Have you ever watched its great, wide-open face staring 

 full at the sun, no matter where he goes to? If you have not, just plant a 

 seed or two next spring, for the one single reason that you want to watch 

 that sunflower staring at the sun from dawn until dusk. You will see 

 the great, dark, yellow-fringed eye, slowly turn, from the east to the west, 

 as the sun moves thru the sky. It is not only. queer — it is positively 

 uncanny. 



Neltje Blanchan, in her book, "Nature's Garden," gives some inter- 

 esting facts concerning this gigantic flower. Champlain, it seems, discov- 

 ered the Indians on Huron's shore, three centuries ago, cultivating it, for 

 its stalks, which furnished them with a textile fibre; for its leaves, which 

 gave them fodder; for its seeds, which gave them food and hair oil (!); 

 and for its yellow petals, which gave them a strong yellow dye. 



Swine, poultry and parrots were fed on its seeds. Its flowers, even 

 under Indian cultivation, had reached an enormous size. 



Early settlers in Canada were not slow sending home to Europe so 

 decorative and so useful an acquisition to the garden. 



It was found that the Indians had brought the sunflower from its 

 native prairies beyond the Mississippi. Formerly the garden species was 

 thought to be a native of Peru and Mexico; because the Spanish con- 

 querors found it employed as a mystic and sacred symbol much as the 

 Egyptians employed as a mystic and sacred lotus in their sculpture. In 

 the temples the handmaidens wore upon their breasts plates of gold beaten 

 into the likeness of the sunflower. 



But, none of the eighteen species of helianthus (sunflower) found so 

 far south produces under cultivation the great plants that stand like gold- 

 en-helmeted phalanx in every old-fashioned garden in the north. Many 

 birds, especially of the sparrow and finch tribe, come to feast on the oily 

 seeds. And, what could be a more charming sight, than to see a family 

 of goldfinches settle upon the huge, top-heavy heads, unconsciously 

 formning a study in brown and gold. So saays Neltje Blanchan. 



