SrXFLOWEE. 59 



alisolutely without honour in verse. Clare pictures the eot- 

 tnger selcetiuo' for tlie garden the rose, the woodbinej the 

 dais}', and in due time 



" Training the trailing poas in bnnches neat, 

 rei-fuming evening with a luscious a^Yoet, — 

 And sunflowers planted for their gilded show, 

 That scale the lattice AN'indows ere they hluw, 

 Then sweet to habitants witliin the sheds, 

 Teep througli the diamond panes their gilded lieads." 



Sunflowers are grown in America for the oil that may 

 be compressed from their seeds. Tliis the English house- 

 wife may obtain indirectly by the very simple plan of grow- 

 ing sunflowers for the poultry-yard, for the oily allnimen 

 of the seeds is very aceeptalde to }ioultry. The best way to 

 supply the birds with the seeds is to hang up the ripe heads 

 just high enough to compel the chicks to pick them out, for 

 when the heads are thrown into tlie yard they are trodden 

 on and wasted. 



The cottager's way of growing sunflowers is to sow the 

 seed in April in the open gmund. The proper way for a 

 gardener is to sow the seed in March in pots or ])ans, and 

 start the grii\^th in a gentle heat. Any light rich soil will 

 suit for the purpose. When the 2">lants have made two rough 

 leaves they should be pricked out into other pans and al- 

 lowed I'oom to spread, and kept near the glass, with plenty 

 of air, so as to l)e strong and stout — no matter how short — 

 for planting out early in May. They must for a time l.)e 

 prf)tected from frost, keen winds, and snails. If the soil is 

 rich and deep, and the plants are allowed plenty of room, 

 they will attain to far greater dimensions than are cemi- 

 monly seen, and make a truly grand display. 



Amongst the best of the annual sunflowers are those 

 named Globomis, Culifitni icii/s, b mjiorjifs, CnciniicriJ'oliiift, 



