FIELD MEETING AT BRADFORD. 39 



flowers are natives peculiarly of North America and great- 

 ly abound in the southwestern states, Texas and Mexico. 

 They perhaps never before received such marked attention, 

 for they are generally rough, 'coarse herbs and their flowers 

 are inferior in texture, fragrance and general loveliness to 

 the flowers of spring and the early summer. Many of the 

 choice species of Helianthus found their way into the gar- 

 dens of England early in our colonial history, and nowhere 

 have American plants received greater favor. 



Helianthus tuberosus, whose potato-like roots furnished 

 pottage for the Indians long before the advent of the white 

 man upon these shores, has been cultivated in Europe more 

 than two hundred and fifty years. Au account of the large 

 annual sunflower "Helianthus annum" from Mexico, was 

 published in England .in 1568, and it is recorded as culti- 

 vated in English gardens as early as 1596. 



One of the prettiest varieties of the annual Helianthus, 

 being a diminutive of the cucumber-leaved variety, is called 

 Sutton's favorite and is a low growing plant with flowers 

 not much larger than a coreopsis. The double varieties of 

 Helianthus annuus are marvels among double flowers in 

 their multiple fulness and array. Of the perennial spe- 

 cies there are many worthy of cultivation, such as Helian- 

 thus occidentalism decapetalus, divaricatus, etc. 



Helianlhus multiflorus-grandis is deservedly a popular 

 garden plant and to many persons suggests a double yellow 

 dahlia. Helianthus orgyalis, from Arkansas, with its 

 narrow drooping foliage and tall panicles of flowers is 

 truly excellent. Helianthus MaximiUianus, from Mexico, 

 is of recent distribution and valued for its late flowering. 

 Our two Rudbeckias and the rose-colored species from 

 Texas may well find a place in our gardens. 



Mr. Phippen also spoke of the obtrusive beauty of other 

 genera of that great family the Composites or Aster- 



