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Gardening for Amateurs 



describe this delightful flower. Every gar- 

 den lover having once seen the Romneya 

 in flower determines to grow it, but all 

 do not rucceed. Rather special conditions 

 are necessary for success. These are well- 

 drained, sandy soil and a warm, sheltered 

 position at the foot of a fence or south wall. 

 In the favoured gardens of the southern and 

 western counties Romneya thrives in the 

 open border. The white, glistening, crinkled 

 petals of Romneya Coulteri surround a large 

 tuft of golden-yellow stamens ; the flowers 



One of the Cone Flowers 

 (Rudbeckia speciosa). 



are some 5 inches across and fragrant, 

 and are produced from June to October. The 

 leaves also are attractive, being glaucous 

 green and of elegant form. The average 

 height of the plants is 4 feet, though in genial 

 surroundings they may exceed this. A 

 second kind, R. trichocalyx, bids fair to 

 surpass R. Coulteri for garden decoration. 

 It is readily distinguished by the hairy 

 buds, those of the better-known R. Coulteri 

 being smooth. Though not quite so tall, 

 R. trichocalyx is much more free in growth 

 and not nearly so exacting in the con- 

 ditions necessary to success. The flowers 

 are similar to Coulter's Poppy in colour 

 and texture. In sheltered positions the 

 Romneyas assume a shrubby character if 



protected from frost. The young growths 

 in spring, however, push up again from near 

 the base. Though endeavours to propagate 

 the Romneya by division in spring are oc- 

 casionally successful, seeds form the usual 

 means of increase. Sow in a cool greenhouse 

 or cold frame at any time from February to 

 June. Grow the young plants singly in pots 

 for at least a year until they are large enough 

 to plant out where they are to grow per- 

 manently. If cut in a half-open state, the 

 blooms of Romneya last for some days in 

 water. 



Rudbeckia (Gone Flower). The Rud- 

 beckias are attractive autumn-flowering 

 perennials, very useful for herbaceous and 

 shrubbery borders, beds on the lawns, or 

 for cutting. The centres of the flowers, 

 instead of being flat as in Helianthus (Sun- 

 flower), are usually raised, forming a cone, 

 hence the popular name Cone Flower. In 

 some respects the Rudbeckias resemble the 

 perennial Sunflowers, and need the same 

 treatment. Eight or nine sorts are culti- 

 vated in gardens, though only about half 

 this number are widely grown. All are 

 natives of North America. The usual 

 method of increase is by division of the 

 clumps at any time during mild weather 

 from October to March. Seeds of most of 

 the kinds may be obtained, this being 

 a cheap and easy way of propagating 

 Rudbeckias in quantity. Sow the seeds on 

 a prepared border out of doors from April 

 to June. When the young plants are large 

 enough, set them out in the reserve garden, 

 about 6 inches apart, and during February 

 or March transfer them to the positions 

 where they are to flower the following 

 autumn. The Cone Flowers will thrive in 

 most garden soils, w^ell-tilled loam being 

 best. A mulching of decayed manure is 

 beneficial during June, or several applica- 

 tions of liquid manure may be given from 

 June to September. Plant them in sunny 

 or partially shaded positions. The tall, 

 vigorous growths may be lifted and divided 

 annually or in alternate years. Rudbeckia 

 speciosa and R. purpurea should be left 

 for several years undisturbed, unless an 

 increase of stock is required. The best 

 known of the taller kinds is R. laciniata, 

 which grows from 5 feet to 8 feet high; 



