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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS helenium 



boxes of light soil 2-3 in. apart, and grown 

 on until about the. end of May or begin- 

 ning of June, when they will be strong 

 and sturdy for the flower borders. The 

 kinds described below are all natives of 

 Mexico. Other kinds, such as glanduU- 

 fera, lucida, Parryi, and tenuifolia, are 

 occasionally seen in botanical collections, 

 but are not generally grown. 



T. erecta {African Marigold). — A 

 beautiful annual about 2 ft. high, having 

 pinnately cut leaves with lance-shaped, 

 serrulate segments, and large heads of 

 beautiful, soft yellow flowers, larger than 

 those of the French Marigold. The 

 varieties in gardens have double flowers, 

 that is, flower-heads in which the tubular 

 disc florets have been changed into strap- 

 shaped ones like the ray florets, varying 

 from pale lemon to deep orange in colour. 

 They are very fine when grown in 

 masses. 



Culture dx. as above. 



T. patula (T. corymbosa). — French 

 Marigold. — A beautiful species about 

 1^ ft. high, with leaves more finely 

 divided than those of T. erecta. Flowers 

 golden-brown, or according to varieties, 

 striped and mottled, with orange, yellow, 

 and chestnut-brown in various shades. 

 The variety noma or ' Pigmy Marigold ' 

 grows only about 6 in. high, and is a 

 capital plant for edgings or borders. 



Culture dc. as above. It is the 

 double-flowered forms that are so much 

 valued for their brilliancy and freedom 

 of flowering. 



T. signata (Striped Mexican Mari- 

 gold). — An erect-growing annual about 

 IJ ft. high, closely allied to T. patula, 

 but with much smaller golden-yellow 

 flowers. Leaves with 6 pairs of. oblong 

 lance-shaped, deeply toothed segments. 

 The variety pumila forms a dwarf com- 

 pact bushy plant covered with small 

 yellow flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. 



PECTIS. — A genus of about 30 species 

 of annual or perennial herbs with opposite 

 usually narrow and entire leaves furnished 

 with pellucid dots. Flower-heads small, 

 yellow. Involucre with a single row of 

 bracts ; receptacle naked. Pappus bristly 

 or scaly. 



P. angfustifolia. — A branching tender 

 annual 4-6 in. high, native of N.W. 



America. Leaves coarsely ciliate, linear. 

 Flower heads yellow, fragrant. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is 

 the only species of any garden value. It 

 may be raised from seeds sown in heat in 

 spring, and planted out in May or June ; 

 or the seeds may be sown in the open 

 border in April and May, afterwards 

 thinning the young plants out about 6 in. 

 apart. 



HELENIUM. — A genus with about 

 18 species of pretty annual or perennial 

 herbs, with alternate, often decurrent, 

 entire or few-toothed leaves. Beceptacle 

 chaffy between the ray florets. Pappus 

 of 5 bristles. Bracts of involucre in one 

 series united at the base. Kay floret 

 toothed. 



Culture and Propagation. — These 

 plants grow in any garden soil, and being 

 somewhat coarse-growing require to be 

 planted where they will not interfere with 

 choicer things. They may be increased 

 by dividing the roots early in autumn, 

 or preferably in spring, or Irom seeds, 

 which may be sown in spring in cold 

 frames. The seedlings are pricked out 

 and grown on, and if sturdy enough by 

 the end of September may then be 

 planted out in dull showery weather; if 

 not, it will be better to plant the following 

 spring. Increase by division is, however, 

 much more easy and simple. The plants 

 should be grown in bold masses to give 

 a good effect, and they should be from 

 1 to 3 ft. apart according to height and 

 habit. 



H. autumilale. — A showy perennial 

 4-6 ft. high, with smooth lance-shaped, 

 somewhat decm:rent leaves 3-4 in. long. 

 Flowers in August, pure yellow, hke a 

 small Sunflower. The varieties grandi- 

 Jlorum and superium have larger and 

 finer flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. 



H. Bolanderi. — A handsome Cali- 

 fornian plant about 2J ft. high, with lance- 

 shaped acute leaves and large yellow 

 flowers with a dark brown centre. 



Culture dc. as above. 



H. Hoopesi. — A rather showy North 

 American perennial 2-3 ft. high, with 

 smooth, lance-shaped, pointed, stem- 

 clasping leaves. Flowers in early sum- 

 mer, bright orange, about 2 in, across. 



Culture dc. as above. 



