438 



Gardening for Amateurs 



though the giant sorts like heavily manured 

 ground. 



Helichrysum (Everlasting Flower). 



These popular Everlasting Flowers have been 

 obtained from Helianthemum bracteatum, 

 an Australian plant of much beauty. The 

 double-flowered sorts grown in gardens are 

 usually classed as H. monstrosum. The 

 plants grow from 30 inches to 3 feet high. 

 Seeds of the following colours are sold separ- 

 ately or in mixture, crimson, scarlet, gold, 

 orange, lemon, pink, rose and white. Golden 

 Globe (Goldenball), Silver Globe (Silverball), 

 and Fireball are three of the best named 

 sorts. Though the seeds may be sown on 

 a warm border outside the first week in 

 April, it is much better to raise the young 

 plants under glass in a heated greenhouse 

 or cold frame during the last days of March. 

 The richly coloured flowers are valuable for 

 drying, to use for vase decoration and 

 bouquets in winter. The flowers should be 

 cut on a hot, dry day, when not too fully 

 expanded, and hung up heads downwards in 

 a dry airy shed. The Helichrysum delights 

 in rich, rather light soil, and is excellent 

 for beds and groups in the mixed border, 

 where the flowers last in beauty from July 

 to September. 



Helipterum (Immortelle). A choice 

 half-hardy annual, allied to Acroclinium. 

 The best known are H. corymbiflorum, which 

 has pink and white starry flowers, and H. 

 humboldtianum (Sandfordii), with yellow 

 flowers in clusters, both plants grow 1 foot 

 to 15 inches high. Sow under glass in March 

 or on a warm, sunny border outside during 

 April. The soil must be well drained and 

 rather light. When the seedlings are a few 

 inches high, twiggy sticks should be placed 

 among the plants, they will serve as a useful 

 support later. 



Iberis (Candytuft). Everyone ought to 

 grow the beautiful annual Candytufts. In 

 addition to white the following colours, 

 carmine, pink, rose, lilac, crimson, and purple, 

 can be obtained separately or in mixture. 

 There are two distinct strains, known re- 

 spectively as Iberis coronaria (the Spiral 

 Candytufts) and I. umbellata, having flat 

 heads of flowers. The best forms of the 

 Spiral Candytufts are Hyacinthiflora, White 

 Spiral and Snow Queen. These grow 1 foot 



to 1J feet high. Little Prince is a dwarf, 

 compact sort growing 6 inches high, and is 

 valuable for edging, lasting in flower for a 

 long period. All have snow-white flowers. 

 It is in the varieties of the common Candy- 

 tuft (Iberis umbellata) that we get such a 

 pleasing variety of colours. A selection of 

 the best are Atropurpurea, dark crimson ; 

 Rose Cardinal, rosy -carmine ; Lilac and 

 White Rocket. These grow 1 foot high. 

 Hybrida nana is a pleasing dwarf strain of 

 various colours, the plants growing 9 inches 

 high. These also may be purchased in 

 separate colours if desired, one variety with 

 small white flowers being noteworthy for its 

 fragrance. 



The annual Candytufts are indispensable 

 where masses of colour are required as an 

 edging. Sow the seeds thinly towards the 

 end of March or early in April outside where 

 the plants are to flower or on a prepared 

 border, transplanting them late in May. 

 Candytufts must have ample space to grow, 

 6 inches apart for the tall sorts and 4 inches 

 for the dwarf varieties is a good average 

 distance. The flowers are delightful for cut- 

 ting, and last well in water, especially the 

 white Spiral sorts. 



lonopsidium acaule (Violet Cress). 

 A charming miniature hardy annual growing 

 only 2 inches high. The pale mauve flowers 

 are very pleasing. It may be sown in the 

 rock garden to form a carpet for taller-grow- 

 ing plants or as an edging. Self-sown seed- 

 lings come up freely in genial surroundings. 

 Sow the seeds in March or April where the 

 plants are to flower. 



Kaulfussia (Charieis) amelloides. A 

 useful dwarf hardy annual growing 6 inches 

 high. There are two sorts, atroviolacea, 

 purple ; and kermesina, red or crimson. 

 They are best sown towards the end of March 

 or early April where the plants are to flower. 



Kochia trichophylla (Summer 

 Cypress). This half-hardy annual is re- 

 markable for its elegant light green foliage, 

 which in autumn turns to a rich crimson 

 brown. The plants grow 2 to 2^ feet high, 

 and are well named the Summer Cypress, 

 their habit being very suggestive of a Cypress 

 tree. The flowers are insignificant, the grace- 

 ful foliage constitutes their sole attraction. 

 Sow the seed under glass preferably in a 



