GREEK-HOUSE , PLANTS. 



173 



H. Eadnla. 

 H. recurva. 

 H. Beinwardti. 

 H. reticulata. 

 H. retuso. 

 H. rigida. 

 H. rugosa. 

 H. setata. 



H. spiralis. 

 H. subulata. 

 H. snbattenuata. 

 H. tessellata. 

 H. torquata. 

 H. tiauslucens. 

 H. turgida. 

 H. viscosa. 



Heliotropium. — ^The various species of plants 

 belonging to this geiras are of little importance in a 

 decorative point of view ; there is, however, one ex- 

 ception, and that is the popular favourite, H. Feru- 

 riaitum, and its cultivated varieties, all of which are 

 known to every one as 

 " Cheny-pie plants." 



This plant and its 

 varieties are extremely 

 easy to cultivate, and 

 from the delicious fra- 

 grance which they emit, 

 they are much in de- 

 mand for bouquet mak- 

 ing and for mixing 

 with any other cut 

 flowers. 



Heliotropes are low, 

 shrubby plants, with en- 

 tire oblong leaves, which 

 are covered more or less 

 with long rigid hairs ; 

 the racemes are densely 

 set with small lilac, pur- 

 ple, or white flowers. 

 They are frequently used 

 for bedding purposes in 

 the summer months. For 

 the production of cut 

 flowers a plant should 

 be trained against a. 

 wall or pillar in the 

 green-house. A light rich loam suits them best. 



The following axe a few of the best varieties : — 



S. Beauty of the Boudoir. — ^Purple-shaded lilac. 



S. Florence Nightingale. — ^Deep purple. 



S. Souvenir de Leopold I. — Lilac. 



S. the Queen.- — Mauve. 



JET. Fbltaireanum. — Deep purple. 



S. White ladt/. — ^Pure white ; especially useful for 

 winter blooming. 



Hovea. — These are shrubby leguminose plants 

 from various parts of Australia, but chiefly from 

 the South-eastern and Western. 



They are plants of easy culture, but being rather 

 straggling in habit, they require extra attention in 

 the matter of stopping, in order to form compact 

 bushes. 



For potting, a compost of three parts peat and one 



of light loam, with about a sixth part of sharp sand, 

 suits them admirably, and the soil should be used 

 rough. 



The flowers of Hoveas are all some shade of blue. 

 They form brilliant ornaments in the green-house, 

 and are well adapted for exhibition purposes ; but, 

 unfortunately, they have, to a great extent, been 

 pushed out of our collections by the numerous soft- 

 wooded plants now more frequently grown, many 

 of which cannot compare, for grace and beauty, with 

 what are termed old-fashioned plants. 



-ff. Celsi. — A hand- 

 some plant, with alter- 

 nate, broadly-lanceolate 

 leaves, deep green; 

 racemes erect, many- 

 flowered, rich cobalt- 

 blue. Spring smd early 

 summer. 



S. eUiptica. — Leaves 

 obloug-orate, deep green 

 above, rusty below ; 

 flowers purple. Spring 

 and early summer. 



S. pungens. — A very 

 free - growing species. 

 Leaves linear, having 

 the edges slightly roUed 

 back ; flowers deep 

 blue. Spring and early 

 summer. 



ECumea. — S. elegans 

 is the only species in 

 the genus. It belongs 

 to the order Compoaitce, 

 and is remarkable in this 

 family for producing a. 

 large terminal feathery inflorescence, almost resem- 

 bling that of some of the grasses. The plant is a 

 biennial, and attains a height of from three to ten 

 feet, with ample stem-clasping leaves, which are thin 

 in texture and bright green. When rubbed or 

 brushed against, these give ofE a strong aromatic 

 odour, which is highly relished by some, but much 

 disliked by others. 



The seeds should be sown about June or July, and 

 when large enough to handle conveniently, potted 

 into single pots and grown all the sunmier in the 

 green-house, or, what is better, a frame, where the 

 pots can stand on a cool bottom, and have a free 

 current of air. During this time the plants should 

 be re-potted as they require it ; in the following 

 spring they should be shifted into rather large pots. 

 Being coarse feeders, it is necessary to supply them 

 with an abundance of root-room, and from about the 



HtDBANGEA H0RTENSI5. 



