PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



231 



beginning of this century : it is a coarse flower, and should only be 

 sparingly admitted into the general garden. It has tuberous roots, 

 which must be protected from the frost in winter. These send up 

 shoots in spring, from which, as cuttings, the plant may be readily 

 propagated. The Dahlia is a native of Mexico, and innumerable 

 floral varieties are now cultivated. 



In October there are two plants which have an exceedingly striking 

 appearance: the larger {Rudbeckia, fig. 452), with its brilliant flowers, 

 can be seen across the garden ; and the smaller {Helianthus, fig. 453) 



Fig. 453 rt. — Sea Holly. 



Fig. 453. — Helianlhu'; decapelalus. 

 Fig. 452. — Rudbeckia. 



is nearly as striking. As they are rather large and coarse-growing, 

 they must not be allowed to intrude on more delicate-growing 

 plants. A garden without these plants is deprived of so many 

 beautiful flowers. The Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum, fig. 453^) is 

 also an interesting plant. 



One of the last flowers of all comes Chrysanthemum sinense (fig. 

 454), of which there are endless varieties : some tall, with large flowers, 

 growing to a height of six feet {C. sinense) ; others very dwarf, and 

 with small flowers, called Pompones (C. indimm), admirably adapted 

 for dinner-table decoration, and lasting till the first week in January. 

 Some are called anemone-flowered, because the flower has a resem- 

 blance to an anemone ; and there are some from Japan which have 

 loose flowers. Chrysanthemums do not succeed well with me, but grow 

 admirably in the north of London, at Stoke Newlngton, where there 



