212 PLANT CULTURE 



when protected by a frame in Winter. In the Fall those plants 

 which are to remain in the open during Winter should be gone over, 

 and those which have their crowns above the surface of the soil 

 lifted and replanted, so that the roots may be protected. 



Propagation. These sorts are best propagated by seeds or 

 division very early in the season. 



RAMONDIA (Rosette Mullein). R. pyrenaica is a dwarf 

 Alpine plant with neat rosettes of leaves and beautiful, purplish- 

 blue flowers. They require perfect drainage. They may be planted 

 in small pockets in the rockery in a slightly shaded and elevated 

 position and given good peaty soil. 



Propagation. Old plants can be increased by division. Leaf 

 cutting is another method. Seeds can be sown in the Spring, the 

 small plants grown along in pots for the first Summer and kept in 

 a cool, shady place, they will make neat little plants by the end of 

 Autumn. They should be wintered in a coldframe. 



RHEUM. Related to the Pie Plant. However, R. nohile, from 

 the Sikkim Mountains, is one of the most beautiful plants in culti- 

 vation. It flowered at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in 1879 and 

 attracted great attention. R. palmatum, from an ornamental point 

 of view, is the next best species, growing to a height of 12 feet. It 

 really should be given a trial in the Middle West and 

 California. 



Propagation. Only by seeds which are easily obtainable from 

 the Botanical Gardens in India. 



RUDBECKIA (Coneflower). Nearly aU of the species are 

 worthy of a place in the herbaceous border. A few of them are 

 valuable for supplying cut flowers. R. speciosa (R. Newmatmii) 

 grows from 2 to 3 feet high; the color of the outer florets is orange- 

 yellow, while those in the center are almost black. R. maxima is a 

 much taller species, valuable for cutting. R. laciniata attains a 

 height of 4 feet. The variety known as Golden Glow has large, 

 double yellow flowers; the best of all for cutting. R. purpurea 

 {Echinacea purpurea) has purple florets. The Coneflowers are of 

 easy cultivation, in almost any soil or situation, from a semi-shady 

 position to full sun. If cut back severely when through blooming 

 and well-watered it often produces a second crop of flowers. 



Propagation. Some of the species are easily raised from seeds, 

 but most of them may be divided freely if the work is done before 

 they make much growth in Spring. 



