FLOWERS TO GATHER 147 



gigantea reaches to a height of eight feet, is altogether a coarser 

 flower, but is nevertheless most serviceable on account of its exquisite 

 primrose yellow blooms that last a very long time in water. 



Rudbeckia Golden Glow is more like a small, deep-gold double 

 sunflower than a Cone Flower, and can be truly described as one of the 

 finest of all plants to cut from, the blossom period lasting from July 

 to October. Rudbeckia Newmanni is perhaps the best single Cone 

 Flower for gathering ; the colour is a real orange gold, the centre disc 

 is almost black, the height is only two feet, and the variety will 

 thrive in semi-shady places, even beneath tall trees. 



Aquilegia Muiistead Giant White is the Columbine I would 

 never be without, for the immense sprays of snowy flowers are as 

 elegant as they are handsome. Another white spring bloomer that 

 should always be grown is the Double Arabis. There are still some 

 flower-lovers to whom the name Arabis means only a single, rather 

 insignificant, untidy edging plant, but Arabis albida fl. pL attains a 

 height of a foot, and its sprays of intensely double rosette blossoms, 

 tapering with pearly buds, give a unique table decoration with ferns, 

 or will charmingly arrange with their own elegant-shaped silvery 

 foliage. 



The false Starwort, or Boltonia asteroides, is far too little 

 known ; most amateur floriculturists who see it call it a pink 

 Michaelmas Daisy. Beginning to bloom in September, it continues 

 throughout that month and October, rises five feet high, and is of a 

 salmon pink, or flesh-coloured shade, quite unlike the usual Michael- 

 mas Daisy rose. There is a white species that can also be highly 

 commended for cutting, a flower of similar season, each bloom often 

 an inch and a half across and set at intervals on branching stem ; of 

 identical height and hardiness, and catalogued as Boltonia latis- 

 quama. 



Centaureas are noted for their vase value. A year or two ago 

 the Great Knapweed, Centaurea macrocephala, became very popular 

 for its yellow blossom, but now growers usually prefer Centaurea 

 glastifolia, which yields an abundance of thistle-like yellow flowers 

 during July, August, and September, and is a grand flower for giant 

 vases, the branches being picked with plenty of foliage. Centaurea 

 ruthenica is an exceedingly artistic graceful grower, but the tint is 

 dull or straw yellow ; its height is but a yard, whereas the others 

 rise taller. 



Of all Chrysanthemum maximum varieties I prefer 

 William Robinson for gathering, because the huge flowers are not 



